As the deadline approached on the final day of the winter transfer window, the discussion at Leeds United centred more on who could be on the way before 11pm rather than any potential incomings.
As Leeds’ interest in Cameron Archer and Adam Armstrong came to nothing – the former staying at Southampton and the latter set to join West Brom, clearance permitting – Mateo Joseph was the name on the lips of the Elland Road faithful as the afternoon bled into the evening.
Fresh from scoring his first goal since October off the bench as Leeds United thrashed Cardiff City 7-0 on Saturday, speculation emerged suggesting that the Spain Under-21 international could be in line for a return to his home country.
Real Betis reportedly offered £10 million for Mateo Joseph. A bid Leeds were quick to reject.
And, fortunately, that was as far as it went. Betis have a good working relationship with the Yorkshire giants these days – they signed Marc Roca and Diego Llorente last summer and could yet be Junior Firpo’s destination when his contract runs out – but Leeds had no intention of selling a striker who, while far from prolific, offers many of the attributes Daniel Farke looks for in his number nines.
Real Betis president says Leeds United’s Mateo Joseph was not their first-choice
As for Betis, well they put the disappointment of that failed bid behind them pretty quickly. Los Verdiblancos would complete a £13 million deal for Columbus Crew attacker Cucho Hernandez just in time.
And Angel Haro, the president of Real Betis, was insistent that, despite bidding for Joseph, one-time Watford youngster Hernandez was always their number one choice.
“A significant amount of work has been done not only on the two players who have arrived [Hernandez and Manchester United loanee Antony], who are very high quality,” Haro says. “But also on lightening the squad in terms of salaries, which has allowed us to move with relative ease to bring in these players.
“I think [Cucho Hernandez] is an investment that is worth it. You can see the deals that are being made for forwards. Players who, with all due respect, have not yet proven themselves and the amount of money is significant.
“Goals are very expensive. We are betting on a proven player who is still young. It was option A, I can say that with certainty. He’s the player we wanted.
“We’ve brought in a striker for the future of Betis.”
Daniel Farke has backed Mateo Joseph to fulfil his potential
While Haro’s comments may carry a sense of ‘well, I didn’t fancy her anyway’, it should be pointed out that, while Mateo Joseph left Espanyol for Leeds before playing a La Liga match, Cucho Hernandez brings with him a track record in Spain’s top flight.
He scored 11 La Liga goals as a youngster with Getafe, Huesca and Real Mallorca.
As for Joseph, while he has just three goals in 30 games this season, Daniel Farke retains plenty of faith in Leeds United’s number 19. What Joseph lacks in terms of ruthlessness, he often makes up for in his unselfish, physical approach to centre-forward play.
“I’m happy with Mateo and the workload, and the goals will come,” Farke said earlier this season. “He’s so greedy to score.
“I have to keep in mind he’s still a young player. It’s still more or less his first season starting games. It’s not easy to fulfil all expectations for a club with such a heavy shirt. He can’t be the finished end product at the moment but he’s moving in the right direction.”
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