Talks held: Hotshot striker keen to join Leeds amid update on reported Thorp Arch visit – report
Leeds United have held talks about signing Stuttgart striker Nicolas Gonzalez after missing out on Jonathan David to Lille, according to the Guardian.
The newspaper claims that Brighton are also interested in signing Gonzalez, 22, with the Argentina international keen on a move to either Elland Road or the AMEX.
The Guardian adds that Gonzalez will cost at least £15million this summer but the striker has recently suffered a “minor injury” in training this week.
As it’s a minor injury, we don’t expect that to cause Leeds to halt their pursuit of Gonzalez but it might raise a concern or two after Jean-Kevin Augustin endured an injury-ridden few months on loan at Elland Road last season.
Gonzalez does seem like a top striker and one who will perform well at Leeds next season if they can strike a deal for him.
Unfortunately, the Argentine is not as close to joining the Whites as reports had previously suggested as the All Stats Aren’t We podcast said last week that he had already been shown around the facilities at Elland Road and Thorp Arch.
The Guardian says that report is wide of the mark, but at least they are adamant the Yorkshire club is pursuing a summer swoop for Gonzalez, who scored 15 goals in 29 appearances across all competitions last term as Stuttgart won promotion back to the Bundesliga and has drawn comparisons to Real Madrid legend Raul.
Marcelo Bielsa also seems to be a massive fan of Gonzalez as the Mirror reported earlier this month that he believes the ex-Argentinos Junior striker will take the Premier League by storm next season.
Bielsa is rarely wrong so we really cannot wait to see how this transfer develops with Leeds in desperate need of a new centre-forward before the new Premier League season kicks off in September.
In other Leeds United news, agents have whipped up interest in this Leeds-link player.