Leeds United continue to be linked with new players as the January transfer window nears, and the latest is a striker who has earned the admiration of Man City manager Pep Guardiola.
Daniel Farke’s switch to 3-5-2 in recent weeks has increased the need for another striker to compete with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha. Especially, with Nmecha injured and missing the last three.
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Joel Piroe’s future is in doubt, and Noah Okafor isn’t naturally a striker. Leeds then need another striker to compete up top. Then, at centre-back, Leeds will want another option to provide cover for the starters.
Joe Rodon’s injury on Sunday highlighted that. With the January window open this week, more and more options continue to be touted with a move to Leeds, and the latest caught Pep Guardiola’s eye in 2021.
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The latest to be linked with a move to Elland Road is Argentina international Taty Castellanos. The former New York City striker, who joined Lazio in the summer of 2023, had a hand in 22 goals for Lazio last term.
Before his move to Europe, Castellanos had a hand in 83 goals in 134 New York City appearances before an initial loan at Girona in 2022. His form in America caught the eye of Man City manager Guardiola.
Back in 2021, Guardiola told Manchester Evening News about Castellanos: “He is a guy who will do the next step in Europe. I know he is a quality player, and I think he is ready to make the next step to Europe.”
Castellanos would eventually move to Europe in 2022, with a move to Spanish side Girona on loan, before his permanent move to Lazio in 2023. Now, Leeds could take him to the Premier League for the first time.
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In Farke’s 3-5-2 system, up top, Leeds need a proper centre-forward and then a striker that can combine the midfield and wing-backs to the attack. Nmecha did it superbly in the 3-1 win against Chelsea.
Calvert-Lewin is, without doubt, the starting option to be the club’s main centre-forward. But Nmecha has not yet nailed down the role alongside Calvert-Lewin, and an improvement could be signed in January.
Joshua Zirkzee looks set to join Roma from Man United, while Leeds are still in talks with Troy Parrott. They are the kind of creative strikers that would suit playing alongside Calvert-Lewin in a 3-5-2 system.
Castellanos fits that mould. He’s had a hand in 38 goals in 97 games for Lazio, but 16 of those 38 goals and assists are the latter. Available for £22m, Castellanos would be a very solid signing for the Whites.
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