Medical today: Leeds on verge of major signing – Phil Hay
Valencia striker Rodrigo will undergo a medical today (Wednesday) ahead of joining Leeds United, according Phil Hay’s sources in Spain.
Tribuna Deportiva and Golsmedia Sports reporter Hector Gomez wrote on his personal Twitter account on Tuesday that the 29-year-old’s medical will take place at Clínica Eresa in Valencia.
The Athletic journalist Hay – the most reliable of journalists when it comes to Leeds – has added further weight to that claim, saying that his sources in Spain have told him a medical is “anticipated” to take place today.
Gomez added that the 29-year-old Spain international had doubts about quitting Valencia to join newly-promoted Leeds but Marcelo Bielsa has been key to the deal and managed to convince the ex-Bolton striker to agree to join the Yorkshire giants.
The Bielsa effect appears to have played a role here.
You can understand why Rodrigo would have doubts about joining Leeds.
He’s a Brazilian-born Spain international who’s only had a brief loan spell in England when he struggled at Bolton in 2010/11.
He doesn’t understand how massive a club Leeds are and simply sees a team who’s just won promotion to the Premier League after 16 years out of it and could see joining a team like that a risk.
However, Bielsa’s clearly managed to change Rodrigo’s mind and clear any doubts that the forward once had about the Elland Road club.
Other than the style of football and how good a coach he is, Bielsa’s ability to draw in good players is also another reason why Leeds are lucky to have him.
You can bet that Leeds won’t be signing Rodrigo unless Bielsa was 100 per cent sure that he can get the best out of the striker.
Hopefully the Spain international can live up to his fee and shine at Elland Road in the Premier League.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites want to sign this Arsenal midfielder on loan.