Leeds United told to sign ‘one of the best players in this country’, Premier League club want £7.5m

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The Leeds United squad were each given a cheer from the Elland Road crowd on Monday night as one by one, the squad re-entered the pitch after the 4-0 win over Bristol City.

A stunning night which saw Leeds play their last home game of the season and the first since promotion was confirmed last Monday, after the 6-0 win at Stoke and Sheffield United’s 2-1 defeat to Burnley.

It is fair to say Ao Tanaka and Harry Gray probably got the biggest cheers, with 16-year-old Gray the last to enter the field given he is currently wearing no.45. Plenty of others got a fairly big cheer, as well.

One of those to get applauded on to the field of play was one of Leeds’ four injured players in the form of Joe Rothwell. The midfielder is out with a calf issue, alongside Pascal Struijk, Dan James and Isaac Schmidt.

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Aidy White desperate for Joe Rothwell to sign on at Leeds United

Rothwell has made it clear on a couple of occasions that he does not know where his long-term future is after a stellar season in which, despite playing a rotational role, has helped Leeds buck a long-term issue.

The Whites have been dismal from set-pieces in recent years but Rothwell’s delivery has proved to key in some big moments, like the wins over Sheffield United and Sunderland. He got a very good reception.

As he made his way onto the pitch, Aidy White told BBC Radio Leeds: “Joe Rothwell, with his assists this season, four or five, he’s played a crucial part. I hope it’s not the last time we see him at Elland Road.”

How much Leeds will have to pay to sign Joe Rothwell…

There is no doubt that Rothwell has been a solid loan signing. There was a bit of an underwhelming vibe to Rothwell’s arrival on loan from Bournemouth, but Farke thinks Rothwell has proved doubters wrong.

Bournemouth are said to want a £7.5m fee for Rothwell going into the summer. But the former Blackburn star is now 30 and entering the final year of his Cherries deal – leaving potential for some wiggle room.

Indeed, Graeme Bailey has told LeedsUnited.News that Rothwell could be allowed to go for a smaller fee. The issue Farke and The 49ers have in choosing whether to sign Rothwell is Premier League experience.

The numbers show Rothwell is yet to mirror his Championship form at the top:

He lacks it, while being 30. There is no doubt that he provides creativity and as a deep-lying playmaker able to drive forward from deep, there is no other player in the team like him. But is he worth signing?

Well, boss Farke thinks he is “one of the best players in the country” when in possession. Judging by Farke’s comments, it would be of no surprise to see Rothwell agree a permanent move to Yorkshire.