Leeds and West Ham like ‘world-class’ striker and he’s made big transfer call

Follow us on Google Discover

Mateo Retegui has given his ‘total approval’ to a summer switch to Inter Milan with Premier League trio Leeds United, Crystal Palace and West Ham in danger of missing out on the Argentine-born Italy international. 

Would Retegui have put away one of the two chances Leeds squandered in the dying seconds of Tuesday’s nail-biting 1-1 draw with relegation rivals Leicester City? Marc Roca heading straight at Daniel Iversen seconds before Patrick Bamford put forwards his own contender for ‘miss of the season’? 

With eight goals in 11 games this season for Tigre, the supposedly ‘world-class’ Retegui’s record speaks for itself. 

One of football’s rising striker talents, the Boca Juniors loanee hit a further 23 across 2022. After Roberto Mancini utilised the old ‘Granny Rule’ in order to register Retegui for the Italian national team, the South American hitman marking his Azzurri bow with a typically well-taken finish in a Euro 2024 qualifier against Gareth Southgate’s England. 

Can Mateo Retegui replace Patrick Bamford at Leeds United?

According to reports, Crystal Palace, West Ham and the aforementioned, goal-shy Leeds are all potential destinations for Retegui this summer. The 6ft 1ins centre-forward may have left Victor Orta and co with mixed feelings, however, while discussing his future a couple of weeks ago. 

“My next club will be in Europe,” Retegui, said, as relayed by Fabrizio Romano.

The striker then said, however, that he would ‘love to try an experience in Serie A’.

Inter Milan are reportedly willing to offer him just that. Calciomercato say that Simone Inzaghi’s Champions League semi-finalists were one of the first clubs to make their move, Retegui giving a potential summer switch to the San Siro his ‘total approval’. 

Inter will need to replace Chelsea loanee Romelu Lukaku. Calciomercato add that Inter may need to qualify for next season’s Champions League too in order to get Retegui through the door. The club’s financial concerns would certainly be offset by the riches of top-level European competition.  

But with Retegui clearly excited by the prospect of wearing blue-and-black, the early signs look promising.

“Everything suggests that Retegui will be sold in June,” says Tigre president Ezequiel Melarana. “There are several clubs in interested in Europe. We will buy him (permanently from Boca Juniors before cashing in).”