Leeds United have reportedly failed with a bid for Middlesbrough’s Rudy Gestede.
Leeds United are already looking to land a replacement for Chris Wood – but The Gazette report that their first bid for Middlesbrough striker Rudy Gestede has failed.
The Whites saw star striker Wood complete his big-money move to Burnley on Monday afternoon, and he leaves a huge hole to fill in the Leeds attack having smashed 30 goals in all competitions last season.
Middlesbrough striker Rudy Gestede (L) vies with Ahmed Elmohamady
With Caleb Ekuban injured against Sunderland on Saturday, it’s imperative that Leeds move quickly to sign another striker, but their first move since selling Wood appears to have failed.
The Gazette report that Leeds made an offer – believed to be in the region of £6million – for Middlesbrough striker Rudy Gestede, but that bid has been swiftly rejected by Boro and former Leeds boss Garry Monk.
The towering striker, 28, made his name with Blackburn Rovers having scored 35 goals in 73 games, but he only managed ten goals in 58 games for Aston Villa before being sold to Middlesbrough earlier this year.
Gestede, a Benin international, scored once in 16 Premier League games for Boro, and after Monk landed Britt Assombalonga, Martin Braithwaite and Ashley Fletcher this summer, many expected Gestede to be on the chopping block – but he has fought for his place under Monk, and fans want him to stay.
Rudy Gestede of Middelsborough has his shot saved by Jordan Smith of Nottingham Forest
Middlesbrough fans took to Twitter after news broke of Leeds’ bid for Gestede, with many urging the club to keep him having impressed so much in the early stages of this season.
Many claimed that they would have accepted £6million for Gestede over the summer, but his recent displays mean he still has a key role to play as a target man under Monk, even if he sometimes forces Boro to play too direct – and with Boro seemingly not for doing business, it looks like fans will get their wish and Leeds will have to look elsewhere.
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