OPINION
Leeds have reportedly made a £6million offer to sign Middlesbrough striker Rudy Gestede after selling last season’s top scorer Chris Wood to Burnley.
Burnley confirmed on their official website that 25-year-old striker Wood had completed a move to join the Premier League side, penning a four-year deal with a fee believed to be around £15million plus add-ons.
Guardian journalist Ed Aarons then claimed on his personal Twitter account that the Yorkshire giants had moved quickly to replace the loss of Wood, by tabling an offer for target man Gestede.
Leeds have made a £6m bid for Middlesbrough striker Rudy Gestede #lufc
— Ed Aarons (@ed_aarons) August 21, 2017
Gestede, 28, has struggled to have an impact at the Riverside Stadium since joining Boro from Aston Villa back in January, scoring just three goals in 23 league and cup appearances.
However, making three starts for Garry Monk’s Middlesbrough this season, Gestede has already found the back of the net once against Sheffield United and he could now be the man to replace Wood at Elland Road.
This Is Futbol considers whether a move to sign Gestede will be good business at Leeds, and how likely a deal could be completed before the end of the transfer window.
Good move for Leeds?
Gestede has proven time and time again that he knows how to find the back of the net in the Championship, scoring 32 goals for Blackburn in 50 Championship starts with the club after signing permanently in January 2014, before leaving in the summer of 2015.
The striker offers plenty of similar traits to Wood, known for his aerial prowess in the final third as well as his strength and ability to hold the ball up and bring other attackers into the game.
At just £6million, Leeds would replace the loss of Wood with a like-for-like replacement that has the ability to fire Christiansen’s side towards promotion.
It would also leave the Whites with plenty of money left over to reinvest in their squad, as Christiansen looks to end fans’ 13-year wait in the Football League, following their relegation from the Premier League in 2004.
This Is Futbol rating: 9/10.
Likely to happen?
Monk’s Boro have a huge amount of options in the final third, after completing deals to sign Martin Braithwaite, Ashley Fletcher and Britt Assombalonga this summer.
They join Patrick Bamford and George Miller as options up front, and that could see the Whites look to secure a move as they may find that Boro are flexible over selling their number 39.
Gestede will be tempted to join the Yorkshire giants as he will instantly become Leeds’ first-choice striker following the sale of Wood, with the chance to rediscover his goalscoring touch and the opportunity to secure promotion expected to tempt the forward.
Leeds’ sporting director Victor Orta completed a deal to sign Gestede while with the Teesside outfit in January, and he is now looking to do the same at Elland Road and that could help smooth over a deal.
This Is Futbol rating: 9/10.