Leeds United cashing in on Rodrigo would be the right decision
Leeds United forward Rodrigo Moreno joined the two years ago but now might be the right time for the club to cash in on the Spanish forward.
The Spain international signed from Valencia for £27m in the summer of 2020, after five years at the Mestalla Stadium.
However, his move to Elland Road has been far from a success, with the former Valencia man failing to find a consistent role in the team and an obvious crossroads is approaching the striker and the club.
Leeds Live reporter Beren Cross said on Wednesday (27 July): “The Spain international is at the halfway point in his four-year contract with the Whites and decisions need to be made on both sides.
“There is no sign of anything happening imminently with the 31-year-old, whether that be an exit or a new contract, but there has to be some deliberating behind the scenes.”
Crossroads
If Rodrigo is to stay at Elland Road, the club will have to find a way of getting the best out of the 31-year-old, who has two years left on his contract.
He thrived in a second striker role, sometimes leading the line on his own but performing much better with a strike partner beside him, and it is unlikely Marsch will use a formation that plays to Rodrigo’s strengths next season.
During his time with Valencia, he was not the most lethal frontman but averaged 12 goals a season for Los Che during his five-year stay at the Mestalla.
However, 59 goals in 226 games is not what you expect from an international striker, especially not one that cost as much as he did, as he recorded a scoring rate of a goal every 3.7 games.
This rate has decreased even further since joining the Whites, now scoring a goal every 4.6 games, nowhere near enough output for his price tag.
If you compare this to his competition, Patrick Bamford, who has a strike rate of a goal every 2.6 games since moving to Elland Road, it acts as further evidence of Rodrigo’s disappointing goalscoring record.
At the age of 31, it is unlikely that Leeds will ever be able to recoup more money for the former Real Madrid striker, but now would probably be the best time to part ways with their record signing if there is any interest in him at all.
In other Leeds news, the club have been linked to Fenerbahce’s Mergim Berisha.