“Risk” – Leeds United rejected by defender who had Elland Road offer on the table in August

Leeds United had the chance to sign former AZ Alkmaar centre-back Pantelis Chatzidiakos in the summer window, but the player turned it down.

The Whites can be fairly content with how their summer business went in terms of incomings, given the circumstances of how players left the club.

Most gaps were plugged by Daniel Farke and the 49ers, with a couple of exceptions still lingering as we look ahead to the rest of the season.

Could Leeds have signed Pantelis Chatzidiakos?

Greek outlet Sportime reported in early August that Leeds were in talks to sign then-AZ Alkmaar centre-back Pantelis Hatzidiakos after an impressive run of form with the Dutch outfit.

A fee of around £3million appeared to be the asking price for Leeds to land the Greek international, but the move went quiet with the club ending up bringing in Joe Rodon on loan from Tottenham for the season.

Now, the 26-year-old has revealed that he had the chance to leave his former club in August with a move to Leeds on the table, but opted not to, instead heading to the Serie A with Cagliari – per Giannis Chorianopoulos:

“I had a call from AEK Athens and also I had the option of Leeds United but I didn’t want to take the risk.”

Millwall v Leeds predictions?

Hatzidiakos would have been a shrewd signing for us, but I don’t think anyone is going to lose any sleep given that we brought in Rodon.

He looks a great addition to our back four under Farke, taking to the position with ease despite very little time to prepare.

Whether we’re able to buy him permanently in the summer of 2024 remains to be seen, but he looks like he doesn’t have a future at Spurs.