Leeds prepare €23m striker bid amid Premier League battle

Leeds United are reportedly eager to finalise a deal for Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Garcia during the upcoming January transfer window.

Daniel Farke’s side are currently 16th in the Premier League table after 11 matches, one point clear of the relegation zone, and they are determined to bolster their first-team squad in January in a bid to avoid dropping back down to the Championship.

The Elland Road outfit have been linked with a number of players ahead of the winter window, including Celtic winger Sebastian Tounekti, and they have now opted to intensify their pursuit of the aforementioned Garcia.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin has only netted one goal in nine Premier League appearances since his summer move from Everton and centre forward has therefore been identified as a key area in need of improvement by the Leeds hierarchy.

Garcia, 21, scored four goals in six games for Real Madrid at this summer’s Club World Cup, however he has only racked up 108 minutes of action across all competitions so far this season amid Kylian Mbappe’s sparkling form at the Bernabeu.

As a result, the Spain U21 international has been heavily linked with a January departure and Leeds are determined to win the race for his signature by submitting a bid that could reach €22.7 million when including add-ons.

That is according to TEAMtalk, who claim that Leeds will face significant competition from fellow Premier League clubs Aston Villa, Brighton & Hove Albion, Sunderland and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Gonzalo Garcia to Leeds?

If Leeds are able to finalise a deal for Garcia in January, they will be signing a striker who has received rave reviews from Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso.

Although the Spaniard has found game time hard to come by this season, Alonso was eager to praise him following his contributions at the Club World Cup earlier this year.

“He’s the typical number nine, who knows how to wait for his opportunity, who moves well,” Alonso told reporters.

“I’m very happy for him. He has Raul qualities in his movements.”

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