Leeds United join £43m forward race after growing impatient with Rodrigo Muniz

Add as preferred source on Google

Leeds United simply have to sign forwards to bolster their ranks ahead of the Premier League in 2025/26, including a striker and a winger.

They have come up short in a number of areas and Daniel Farke wants a new-look forward line ahead of the Premier League. Speaking post-match against AC Milan, the Leeds United boss explained his thoughts.

Beren Cross of The Athletic quoted Farke: “We have replaced Joseph and Bamford with Nmecha, a free agent, but we have lost Solomon, one of our key players. In comparison to our Championship squad, we have not improved in the offence.”

Rodrigo Muniz hope remains for Leeds, but they are also in the market for a winger after the public pursuit of Igor Paixao. A new name has since emerged in the wide attacking areas.

• READ MORE: Tony Dorigo outlines what Leeds United ‘need’ in the transfer window following AC Milan draw

Leeds United eye move for Nico Gonzalez amid frustration with Rodrigo Muniz

They haven’t given up hope yet and there have been signs of positive progress over striking a deal for Muniz made in the last few weeks, with Atalanta out of the Muniz race.

It’s good news for the Whites, amid Graham Smyth believing Leeds will sign Muniz at some stage in the current window. However, the latest states there is impatience building at the club regarding the Brazilian centre-forward.

The latest comes from The Yorkshire Evening Post, with Smyth stating: “Their patience in waiting for Rodrigo Muniz to become available is weighed against the amount of time left in the window.”

However, perhaps more crucially, Leeds are being linked to Nico Gonzalez of Juventus. It’s stated that the Argentine is one of the players of interest out wide after being unable to bring in a winger almost two weeks on from Paixao’s rejection.

The wide forward has operated in more of a central role previously in his career, with VfB Stuttgart utilising him as a centre-forward and winger. The same was also true at Fiorentina before the 27-year-old joined Juventus.

A left-footed player who predominantly operates from the right, Gonzalez would be a vastly different profile to the other wingers in Leeds’ squad in that sense.

• READ MORE: Three Leeds United wildcard players who will be crucial to Premier League survival

Nico Gonzalez’s career stats and Juventus valuation

Not long ago, the Juve FC website talked up a €50 million (£43 million) move for Gonzalez. That sort of valuation for a player with no resale value is perhaps somewhat of a concern.

However, Gonzalez has always consistently been a player with output, even after a poor season with the Italian giants last season. Leeds simply need difference-makers and match-winners in the team.

Gonzalez scored five and assisted four last season in 38 games. That was the most disappointing year he has had in recent seasons, which perhaps means the valuation won’t quite be in the £40 million+ range.