Phil Hay has claimed that there is constantly transfer interest in Leeds United’s second-most expensive signing, Rodrigo.
The Spaniard was, at the time of his arrival, the club’s record signing, only to be outdone by Brenden Aaronson this summer, which may eventually take some pressure off the 30-year-old’s shoulders.
Rodrigo has certainly not hit the ground running since arriving from Valencia, managing just 16 goals in 64 appearances for Leeds across all competitions, but he has got three in the opening two matches of this season, which could point towards him finally turning a corner at Elland road.
While Rodrigo may not have been setting the world alight with Leeds, Hay has admitted on The Phil Hay Show that there’s always been interest from other clubs in Rodrigo.
He said: “We wrote about Rodrigo right back when he signed from Valencia and kind of reflected on the fact that Valencia were not a pressing side at all, it was not what they did, so it was a complete culture shock, a change of culture for him, coming to a team who did press so much and who continue to press so much under Marsch.
Should Rordigo be played as a striker?
Yes!
No!
“I think Marsch has worked hard to get his arm around him, to make him feel wanted, to feel included. There is always interest in Rodrigo, but at no stage of the summer has transfer talk ever really got going about him.
“At no stage have Leeds seemed as if they were angling to find a club to take him or to cash in to whatever extent they can. I don’t think they’re ever going to get £27m back on Rodrigo, but he would still be worth a certain amount.”
TIF Thoughts on Rodrigo’s time at Leeds…
Rodrigo is not the only one thought to have gained interest over the summer, with the likes of Illan Meslier and Jack Harrison catching the eyes of other clubs.
It has been a strange situation that Rodrigo’s found himself in at Leeds, as he was signed as a striker from Valencia having played the majority of games throughout his career in that position, only to then be deployed as more of an attacking midfielder during his days at Elland Road.
However, if his start to the season has shown anything, he is certainly capable of being a reliable goalscoring option for Leeds as he’s currently the club’s top scorer, and with Patrick Bamford and Joe Gelhardt having recently picked up injuries, he could be about to flourish through the middle.
It wasn’t even that long ago when Rodrigo was being tipped to potentially return to La Liga with Barcelona said to be interested in him, although Leeds blocked any departure – and given his early-season form, they may be about to reap the rewards of that decision.