Leeds United want to sign Raul De Tomas from relegated Espanyol, but the Spanish striker will not come cheap at £20 million and with a £100,000-a-week contract, according to AS.
When the January transfer rolled around, the Catalan club’s Chinese owners obviously thought they could buy their way out of trouble.
But, five months after splurging almost £50 million on three signings, Espanyol finished rock bottom of the La Liga table, mustering five wins all season and almost as many managers.
Turns out money cannot buy you everything after all.
£18 million of that eye-watering winter outlay was devoted towards De Tomas, an old-school bull of a number nine who had scored 14 La Liga goals at Real Vallecano in 2018/19 before a brief and forgettable spell at Benfica.
Despite a respectable return of four strikes in a side devoid of invention and attacking thrust, De Tomas alone could not save Espanyol from the clutches of relegation after almost three decades in the first division.
But do not assume Los Periquitos are just going to give away their record signing on the cheap.
AS claims that Leeds, who have identified ‘RDT’ as the man capable of challenging the divisive Patrick Bamford for a place in Marcelo Bielsa’s attack, will have to pay £20 million, as well as financing his £100,000-a-week contract.
De Tomas, a striker with a rocket in his boots and that slick hairdo, is currently under contract until 2026.
While he would ideally like to play European football, it seems he will have to lower his expectations somewhat if he wants to avoid spending his Saturdays in Alcorcon, Lugo and Oviedo.
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