Bournemouth’s left-back has decided to quit the club this summer, despite interest from Premier League clubs such as Leeds United.
Despite interest from Newcastle, West Ham, and Crystal Palace, the Zimbabwean has instead opted a free transfer to Serie A with Udinese.
His contract at the Vitality Stadium expires at the end of the season, and Aston Villa were another English club interested in signing him, but according to the latest reports, he has agreed to terms with the Italian club.
Aside from Junior Firpo’s recent comeback, left-back remains a priority at Elland Road, but the 23-year-old Zemura is no longer the answer.
The Premier League has the upper hand in most transfer negotiations, but money isn’t everything, and a player who was already in the English top flight has decided to leave.
It was a crowded race to begin with, and with the Whites’ survival as much as the Cherries’, it may have been difficult to strike an agreement ahead of the other interested clubs, but Udinese have stolen a march with their capacity to negotiate prior to the term ending.
A free transfer is always an attractive proposition and this one has now had the door closed, with Leeds sure to be investigating a new option left-back whether they view Firpo as part of the future or not.
Pascal Struijk covered for much of the season, and Red Bull Salzburg’s crucial January arrival Max Wober did as well, but both are naturally suited to play in the middle, and the Austrian’s importance centrally makes it unlikely that he is moved out wide.
Firpo had struggled since joining from Barcelona last season, but Jesse Marsch’s departure allowed him to return to the first-team, and he scored the first goal of the Javi Gracia era against Southampton on 5 February.
For months, the Whites have been associated with left-backs, and Firpo has yet to make the position his own, but Zemura is another name who can be marked off the list.
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