Championship giants Leeds United reportedly wanted to sign Jese Rodriguez from Ligue 1 champions PSG.
Jese Rodriguez just wasn’t a risk worth taking for Leeds United – certainly not for £35,000 a week.
Five years ago, the Canary Islander had the world at his feet. He rose through the ranks at blistering pace at Real Madrid, earning comparisons with Los Blancos legend Raul along the way. It seemed only a matter of time before Jese became one of the world’s elite forwards.
But then it all went wrong. First came that ill-timed cruciate ligament injury which wrecked his progress at Real, then that disastrous £20 million move to PSG, and a forgettable loan spell at Stoke City which ended in relegation.
With all due respect to Leeds, one of the giants of the English game, the fact that Jese is now being linked to a Championship club speaks volumes about how far he’s fallen.
Estadio Deportivo in May claimed that the-now 26-year-old was a target for the ambitious Whites.
But not any more. According to El Desmarque, Real Betis are set to end his PSG nightmare by signing Jese on a permanent deal, despite the fact he scored just twice in 18 games on loan at the green-and-white clad club last season.
What’s more he’s set to earn a hefty £35,000 a week. That is an eye-watering sum for Leeds, whose top earners were reported last year to be taking home a comparatively miserly £15,000 (Yorkshire Evening Post).
£35,000 for a proven, reliable centre-forward would be justified. For an injury prone forward who has never scored more than five goals in a league season? That money would be better spent elsewhere. Leeds have done well to stay clear.
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