OPINION
Leeds United have been desperately searching for a new striker, but a good one these days is hard to find – certainly at a price that Leeds can afford.
Derby County striker Matej Vydra is a name that’s cropped up again and again, and for good reason – he was the Championship’s second-biggest scorer last year with 21 goals in 40 games.
A report in the Sun today said that Leeds were firmly in the hunt still, and although Vydra was holding out for a Premier League club, he was said to find the idea of a move to Leeds ‘attractive’.
However, Leeds fans shouldn’t get their hopes up as Vydra is reportedly looking for Premier league wages irrespective of where he moves to.
According to Phil Hay from the Yorkshire Evening Post, Vydra wants £50k-a-week in salary, which is a stunning – and ludicrous – amount for a Championship player.
To put this in perspective, Chris Wood is reportedly on £30k-a-week at Burnley after moving from Leeds for £15million last summer.
he’s looking for in excess of £50k
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) July 17, 2018
from what I'm told, a deal with Derby was essentially in place. Think it would have been an initial fee rising to around £11m. But Leeds won't meet Vydra's current wage demands so it's immaterial.
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) July 17, 2018
Hay said that an £11million deal was essentially in place but that it was irrelevant as Leeds would not meet those demands. And rightly so.
Vydra might be exactly what Leeds need – a striker who can bang in 20 goals a season in the Championship.
But he’s not an established Premier League striker and there’s no way he should be paid anywhere near £50k-a-week.
We don’t even think any Premier League clubs will touch him at that price when there’s no guarantee he will deliver in the top-flight.
Over a three-year deal it would mean Leeds paying £7.8m in wages – not far off the actual fee of £11million.
If he was willing to accept half of that then Leeds should consider it – until then, Leeds fans can consider this deal dead, through greed.