Leeds United had a bid rejected by Boro for Rudy Gestede – and went out and signed Hamburg’s Pierre-Michel Lasogga instead.
Leeds United began their search for Chris Wood’s replacement by making a bid for Middlesbrough targetman Rudy Gestede.
The Sun reported that The Whites had a £6 million offer rejected for the Benin international after last season’s 27-goal top scorer had sealed his move to Premier League outfit Burnley. Middlesbrough rejected the offer but, just a few days later, Leeds did manager to secure Wood’s successor – albeit from a surprise source.
Thomas Christiansen’s side managed to convince Hamburg to loan Pierre-Michel Lasogga to Elland Road for the season and pay the majority of the German striker’s wages. The 25-year-old was certainly a left-field target and no guarantee of success.
He might have looked like one of the Bundesliga’s most lethal hitmen in his 2013/14 heyday but injuries and fluctuating form limited Lasogga to just 13 goals in 76 appearances over the last three seasons.
Meanwhile, Gestede, despite hardly setting the world alight at Boro or previous employers Aston Villa, has proven himself in the Championship before. He managed a mightily impressive record of 33 goals in 66 games across two league seasons at Blackburn Rovers.
Thinking outside the box
And, while Leeds looking for a powerful striker capable of leading the line and operating as an outball, Gestede could be viewed as something of a ‘safe’ signing – at least compared to the imported, often injured, Lasogga.
Eight games into the season, however, and Leeds United’s risk is already reaping rewards. Lasogga netted twice on his debut against Burton Albion recently and already looks a perfect fit for Christiansen’s tactical plan.
Gestede, meanwhile, has failed to recapture his form back in the Championship with just one goal in five games.
It’s been a key feature of Leeds since employing Victor Orta as head of football to think outside the box in the transfer market. And, signing Lasogga instead of Gestede, it is all working out so far.
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