Leeds United want Brandon Vazquez and FC Cincinnati are seemingly expecting their promising striker to leave the club very soon.
The Whites had a promising window but it ultimately felt very unfinished.
Leeds clearly needed a new striker to support Patrick Bamford and there were a number of players linked.
Mergim Berisha, Arnaud Kalimuendo, Charles De Ketelaere… sadly, they all ended up going elsewhere.
Victor Orta’s failure to sign a new striker could cost Leeds dearly and it’s a position fans want to see strengthened in January.
Leeds United want Brandon Vazquez
Leeds fans will want a proven goalscorer to come in and help what looks like a battle against relegation.
The Whites appear to have a target in mind and it brings the American connection into play.
Jesse Marsch, Brenden Aaronson and Tyler Adams have all joined Leeds in 2022 and 49ers Enterprises continue to have a big stake in the club.
CBS Sports reporter Ben Jacobs claimed in April that Leeds are tacking FC Cincinnati striker Brandon Vazquez ahead of a possible move.
Leeds allegedly considered Vazquez to be a longer-term solution but come January, it may be a case of beggars can’t be choosers.
Vazquez, 24, was formerly with Tijuana and Atlanta United before joining FC Cincinnati in 2019.
The 6ft 2in centre forward has been superb in 2022, bagging 18 goals and eight assists in 33 MLS games.
A call-up to the United States national team surely isn’t far away having been branded ‘spectacular’ by FC Dallas ace Paul Arriola and Leeds are keeping close tabs on his progress.
FC Cincinnati head coach Pat Noonan has now commented on his star striker’s future ahead of the January transfer window for European clubs.
Noonan has told Goal that he thinks Vazquez ‘will be gone’ if he continues his goalscoring form even though FC Cincinnati want to keep him.
Noonan is realistic in that he knows Vazquez’s goalscoring abilities will make him a ‘hot commodity’ and seemingly isn’t planning for him to be around much longer.
“I would say that if he continues on this path, he’s going to be gone,” Noonan said. “That’s my guess. Do we want to lose him? No. If he continues in the form that he is in, he can produce for us for a long time and that’s what we want. But the reality is with his age and with this particular position, the goalscorer, he’s going to be a hot commodity. I don’t expect that he is going to be a part of this group if the production continues at the rate that it did in 2022.”
“For Brandon, the person [and] the player, if other opportunities come about and he’s able to go onto something bigger and better, I think that’s fantastic,” he said. “I think it’s a sign of players being able to be a part of our staff and this club, being in position to develop to play at a higher level, wherever that is, whatever that means,” he added.
The door appears to be open for Leeds to make their move, but much will depend on how they feel he can make the jump from MLS to Premier League.
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