Rabbi Matondo destined for Rangers exit after Leeds United transfer talks
Rabbi Matondo looks set for a move to Blackburn Rovers after Leeds United had discussed a deal to sign him from Rangers, according to the Daily Mail.
The Mail reported on 22 August that following Crysencio Summerville’s exit to West Ham United, the Whites discussed a deal for Rangers wideman Matondo, who now looks bound for Blackburn.
Matondo was one of several names on United’s list as a potential Summerville replacement, with Jonathan Rowe, Roland Sallai and Manuel Benson all linked with moves to Elland Road [Sky Sports, 22 August].
Daniel Farke’s side have reportedly made a breakthrough in their hunt for a player who can make a similar impact to Summerville out wide, with a £9.9million deal agreed for Algeria’s Largie Ramazani [Fabrizio Romano, 21 August].
Leeds United aiming much higher than Rabbi Matondo transfer
Had the Whites hit the transfer panic button after the departures of both Summerville and most recently Georginio Rutter in recent days, Matondo may well have been on his way to Elland Road.
However, despite that button being primed for pressing with just eight days of the window left, United have cast the net wide in their pursuit of new attacking talent, knocking Matondo down the list.
Ramazani, Sallai and Benson all featured in Europe’s top five leagues last season and thus have more recent experience at the highest level than Matondo, who is rated at £2million after two years at Rangers [Football Scotland, 19 August].
Therefore, the Peacocks selecting Matondo as their number one transfer target would have been a hugely underwhelming move for the club to make, particularly in the wake of Rutter’s exit to Brighton.
Ramazani, should his transfer be finalised in the coming hours or days, represents an exciting gamble which could be the difference in Leeds’ promotion push – something Matondo never looked like being.
In other Leeds news, a Whites legend of the early 2000’s has given his verdict on the club’s actions as the transfer deadline looms.
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