Serie A side AC Milan have joined Leeds United and Birmingham City in the race to sign Dinamo Zagreb midfielder Ivan Sunjic, Calciomercato have revealed.

The Daily Mail reported earlier in the summer that Leeds had made an approach to Zagreb over a move for the 22-year-old in response to a £3.5million bid for Sunjic made by Birmingham, with the Elland Road side said to be viewing the midfielder as a potential replacement for Kalvin Phillips.

It was subsequently claimed by Croatian outlet Sprtoske Novosti that the Yorkshire side's bid for Sunjic was set to be rejected, and it now looks as though the task of bringing him to England has got harder for both Leeds and Blues.

Reports from Italy say that Milan have identified Sunjic as a 'dream' signing, as they look to force their way back into contention for a place in the Champions League.

Sunjic has already made well over 100 appearances in senior football, with two spells with Dinamo Zagreb sandwiching a period with the club's local rivals Lokomotiva Zagreb, with the midfielder also making a single appearance for the Croatian national side during his career.

The Verdict

This will surely make a potential deal difficult for either of these two Championship sides.

The chance to move to a club with the history and size of AC Milan is a hugely appealing one for any footballer, and it may be difficult for Sunjic to turn them down should an offer come in for him.

Fortunately for Leeds however, that may not be as big a concern as it may have previously been, with reports linking Phillips with a move away from Elland Road seeming to go quiet in recent weeks.

Birmingham may also see this as less of a blow than it may have been, with the arrival of Dan Crowley from Dutch side Willem II also providing them with a fresh option in the centre of midfield.

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