Club to meet striker replacement on Mon with Leeds in ‘firm talks’ over major deal – reports
Spanish outlet SuperDeporte has reported that Valencia are set to meet with Real Madrid striker Borja Mayoral and his agent on Monday.
They also report that Mayoral is “delighted” at the prospect of joining Valencia, as they look to sign a striker to replace Rodrigo.
Mayoral has spent the last two seasons on loan at Levante and is keen to stay in La Liga. He’s in the final year of his contract at Real Madrid.
The player came up through the ranks at Real Madrid but has only made 31 appearances, albeit with a decent scoring record of seven goals.
The report claims that signing a replacement for Rodrigo is essential for Valencia if they’re going to let their star striker Rodrigo leave, with Leeds firmly in the hunt for his signature.
Could Rodrigo be happening?
TEAMtalk editor James Marshment tweeted on Monday morning to say that Monday’s edition of Spanish paper Sport had said that Leeds and Valencia are in “firm talks” over a deal for Rodrigo.
He claims that the price would be between £22.3 and £26.8m, which would definitely be in the ballpark that Leeds can afford to pay.
His wages could be more problematic, with the player said to be on £116k-a-week at Valencia.
That makes him their second-highest-paid player and it would smash the wage structure at Leeds.
The Leeds wages will have to go up now they’re in the Premier League, but this would be a very significant outlay for a 29-year-old player whose resale value is very likely to go down after his next long-term contract.
It does seem that Leeds United are interested, though. Phil Hay has said it’s seen as a “long shot” but the will to reach a deal does seem to be building.
In other Leeds United news, ‘What is happening?’, ‘Madness’ – Some rival fans react as Leeds set to seal signing this week