Chelsea have just made £73 million bid for player Leeds United wanted to sign in 2023

Add as preferred source on Google

Leeds United were made to regret missing out on a number of their top targets in the Premier League.

The Whites held talks over signing the likes of Josko Gvardiol, Cody Gakpo and Khivcha Kvaratskhelia, but failed to get them over the line. They have all since gone onto do big things.

Gvardiol left RB Leipzig – the team he chose to join over Leeds in 2020 – for Manchester City in the summer for £77m. Gakpo moved to Liverpool just months after a failed move to Leeds and is now worth significant money. Kvaratskhelia is likely to earn a big move from Napoli soon.

However, perhaps the most obvious signing of last year’s January transfer window might be Leeds’ biggest regret – Viktor Gyokeres. Leeds were desperate for a proper number nine and he was right there to do.

Victor Orta, though, opted against signing him and he ended up joining Sporting Club de Portugal in the summer. He has been superb in Portugal and now according to Record, Chelsea have made a massive £73 million offer.

Chelsea bid for failed Leeds target Gyokeres

Leeds were said to be hot on the trail of Gyokeres 12 months ago, but were only willing to pay £14 million. This was considerably lower than Coventry’s £25 million asking price.

Instead, Orta splashed £28 million to sign Georginio Rutter, and while he has been superb in the Championship with five goals and nine assists, he wasn’t the type of striker Leeds needed at the time.

Sporting were then able to win the race in the summer with Leeds having been relegated, where he has 20 goals and 10 assists in 24 appearances across all competitions – an incredible return.

Despite Chelsea’s £73 million bid, Gyokeres has a release clause of £86.2 million and Sporting are expected to hold out for all of that.

That sort of offer shows just how much profit Leeds could’ve turned over had they signed him. His quality in front of goal could’ve also saved them from the drop.