CSKA Moscow have not registered Adolfo Gaich for the new Russian league season amid reports linking the striker with Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United, as reported by Sport24.
Despite joining CSKA in a £7 million deal as recently as last summer, the Argentina international already appears to be on his way out of the VEB Arena.
Gaich has started just two league games for the Moscow-based giants – failing to score a single goal – and spent the second half of last season on loan at Serie A minnows Benevento.
With CSKA opting to leave Gaich out of their squad for the new season, it seems they will not stand in his way should Leeds step up their interest during the final few weeks of the transfer window.
Will Leeds United finally sign long-time target Adolfo Gaich?
Tuttomercatoweb reported last week that a 6ft 3ins centre-forward who has been compared to both Robert Lewandowski and Erling Haaland has emerged as a target for the Premier League team – not for the first time either.
Gaich’s agent, Pablo Caro, confirmed that both Leeds and Sheffield United had expressed an interest in Gaich during the summer of 2020.
The chances of Sheffield United renewing their interest look slim, however, after the Blades were relegated from the top flight last season.
You would think that CSKA would prefer to recoup most if not all of their £7 million investment, with such a fee likely to prove beyond a Championship outfit.
“Why is Gaich not been registered for the season? I don’t understand what this is about,” said Fabian Bustos, another of his representatives, in conversation with Sports.
Clearly, CKSA’s decision has caught the Gaich camp by surprise.
And if you were wondering if the 22-year-old was omitted due to his late return from the Tokyo Olympics, it is worth pointing out that centre-half Bruno Fuchs – who also featured in the tournament – has been included.
Despite his obvious talents, Gaich is hardly the most prolific of goal-scorers. He has found the net just 11 times in 61 senior league games.
But Marcelo Bielsa obviously sees something special in Gaich and the mercurial tactician is an excellent judge of character.
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