‘Either verbally or in writing’ – Leeds United talks dismissed after Sunday claims

On Sunday, Leeds United were reported to be in talks to sign Romano Schmid from Werder Bremen.

Aston Villa had been interested towards the end of 2024, but there hasn’t been much Premier League talk around the 25-year-old since then. This season the Austria international has made 18 appearances, always as a starter, for Werder Bremen. Playing mainly as an attacking midfielder, he’s scored two goals and added five assists.

His latest assist came against Eintracht Frankfurt in a 3-3 draw on January 16th.

Leeds United claims quickly made their way to Germany, where the media then chased the information up. Deich Stube, a well connected source focusing solely on Werder Bremen, have talked the claims down.

Their reports states there’s been no contact from the Premier League to the Bundesliga side.

Deich Stube state: ‘No one from the 16th-placed English club has contacted Werder Bremen yet. There has been no contact between the clubs, either verbally or in writing. This doesn’t rule out possible talks between Schmid and Leeds, however.’

Over at German newspaper Bild, the response is similar. They state there was contact between Leeds United and Schmid’s camp, but that happened a few weeks ago. Nothing came of those talks at the time.

Bild then point out Leeds United have just signed 21-year-old Facundu Buonanotte from Brighton & Hove Albion. The Argentine also plays as an attacking midfielder, with Bild clearly questioning whether Schmid would even be necessary.

Leeds United transfer would be possible

Both sources explain the Werder Bremen player has long held a desire to move to the Premier League.

Reading between the lines, the Bundesliga club wouldn’t be totally against a sale. Indeed, they’ve already identified a potential replacement after previous Schmid rumours.

The man in question is 20-year-old Adriano Jagusic, who plays for Slaven Belupo in Croatia.

Werder Bremen have clearly wanted to send a message out that they’re not in talks with Leeds United. Whether that means nothing is happening and it’s agent talk, or there’s a potential transfer being negotiated by intermediaries, should become clear in the coming days.