Bielsa specifically requests that Leeds sign this 22y/o centre-forward for PL return – report
Marcelo Bielsa has “specifically requested” that Leeds United sign Nicolas Gonzalez from Stuttgart this summer, according to TuttoMercatoWeb.
Gonzalez, 22, scored 15 goals in 29 appearances across all competitions last season as Stuttgart won promotion back to the Bundesliga.
After such a strong season, the Italian news outlet claims that Stuttgart are not willing to sell Gonzalez for a discounted price and will want anything between £13.5million and £18million for the Argentina international.
It is understood that this price-tag could hinder Bielsa’s plans to sign his fellow Argentine for the Yorkshire giants.
Leeds aren’t the only team in the hunt to sign Gonzalez too, with AC Milan, Atalanta, Sampdoria and Napoli all making approaches for the former Argentinos Juniors centre-forward.
Gonzalez seems like a decent striker but the chances of Bielsa getting his man appear to be low due to Stuttgart’s reluctance to sell him on the cheap and level of interest from other top clubs in European football.
It is a shame because the Whites do need to strengthen their strikeforce this summer. As it stands, Patrick Bamford is the only out-and-out centre-forward in Bielsa’s first-team squad.
Gonzalez has been compared to Real Madrid legend Raul and Argentina legend Mario Kempes by the German media.
We have no doubts that Bielsa would like his very own version of Kempes to spearhead Leeds’ attack in the Premier League next season.
Could Gonzalez be that player? Based on this update, it seems unlikely despite Bielsa’s insistence on signing him.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites are the only team with “serious” interest in this centre-back.