Rewind four months, and Leeds United have just confirmed the signing of Lukas Nmecha on a free transfer from Wolfsburg. But the club are intent on bringing in a starting option.
The news of Nmecha’s arrival dropped completely out of the blue. The two-time Germany international put pen to paper on a two-year deal at Elland Road, having endured an injury-hit four years at Wolfsburg.
Immediately after the news broke of Nmecha’s arrival, Leeds were quick to make it clear that the club were still targeting a starting option. Everton’s Beto was the first player to be strongly linked with Leeds.
But the chances of Everton ever letting Beto join a Premier League rival were slim. Leeds targeted others throughout the summer, like Artem Dovbyk and Nikola Krstovic, before Dominic Calvert-Lewin signed.
Rodrigo Muniz signs Fulham contract after £30m+ Leeds bid
But the priority target was always Rodrigo Muniz. Leeds tabled a bid worth £32m including add-ons for Muniz, but it was promptly rejected. Fulham had set an asking price believed to be around £50m.
Newcastle took a look at Muniz, while Atalanta are said to have come close to a deal for the Brazilian. But as the window slammed shut, Muniz remained a Fulham player and has now signed a new five-year deal.
With an option for a further year. Fulham confirmed the news on Wednesday evening and Muniz has declared himself delighted to sign a new deal with The Cottagers and thanked Fulham for their “trust”.
“I’m very grateful, and I would like to thank the Club for having trust in me. I would like to thank everyone. It’s an amazing feeling to stay here and to have this contract and to safeguard my future.”
What Marco Silva said about interest in Rodrigo Muniz…
Muniz has already faced Leeds and did little to stretch the Leeds defence during Fulham’s 1-0 win, a game destined to finish goalless before Gabriel Gudmundsson’s bizarre own goal in injury time.
During the summer, Silva commented on Muniz’s future: “Offers and bids we’ve received – I will not comment. He knows what I think about him, how important he is for us. We will decide what is best.”
It might have been that Leeds signed Muniz, in a different world. But instead, the trust has been put in Calvert-Lewin who has so far avoided injury, scored his first goal and has been largely “unbelievable”.
Anton Stach even thinks Calvert-Lewin could break back into the England squad ahead of the World Cup if he continues doing what he is doing. Thomas Tuchel will certainly have his eye on the Leeds striker.
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