Leeds talking to father of top striker target, player could agree terms of deal today – report
Spanish outlet Super Deporte has claimed that the Leeds United move for Valencia striker Rodrigo has moved closer after key developments on Monday.
First, they claim that Valencia met with the agents of Real Madrid forward Borja Mayoral on Monday, in a bid to sign a player seen as Rodrigo’s replacement.
Second, they claim their sources have said that negotiations between Valencia, Leeds and Rodrigo are “closer” and the fee being discussed is higher than previously reported.
Specifically, they claim that Leeds are talking to Rodrigo’s father about his contract and that he is almost convinced by the move.
The report goes as far as to say that Rodrigo will agree terms on Tuesday if the right offer is put to him. That would just leave the clubs to agree on a fee.
Super Deporte claims the clubs are still a bit apart on this but that Valencia are confident they can get £35.8m for the striker.
Is Rodrigo the one?
There are a lot of specifics in this report and, if accurate, Leeds certainly seem to be getting closer to a deal.
The way we see it, there are now four strikers on the horizon and we think it’s going to be one from these.
Rodrigo has to be top of the list, followed by Brazilian striker Arthur Cabral. Nicolas Gonzalez is still being talked about, along with Ollie Watkins, although the latter has been the quietest of all three.
Time is running out for Leeds, though. The start of the Premier League is now less than three weeks away and Bielsa is said to want Rodrigo for that first game.
Rodrigo didn’t take part in Valencia’s pre-season friendly last Saturday and he missed the last five games of the season with a knee injury that also kept him out for other periods during the 19/20 season.
That doesn’t sound to us like a player who’s going to be ready to play any part in the game at Anfield unless Rodrigo was kept away from the friendly because of an impending move.
Given Valencia’s perilous financial state that’s very possible – they wouldn’t want to do anything that could jeopardise a big move.
Either way, we should find out more in the next 48 hours.
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