Leeds United will be looking to do some serious business as the summer transfer window heads to a close – a replacement for Chris Wood being priority.
Of course Leeds will be backed in an ending market to the tune of £15m received from the sale of Wood to Premier League Burnley. £15m is a hefty sum and the Whites seem already to be looking to spend some of it.
According to the Yorkshire Post’s Phil Hay, on his personal Twitter feed, the Whites have already started to dip into the Wood fund – a Dutch Under-19 player on their radar.
Gestede interest is genuine. Also understand that there is a bid on the table for Jay Roy Grot – 19-year-old Dutch forward at NEC. #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) August 21, 2017
Grot is a Holland Under-19 international. Twenty league appearances and five goals for NEC last season. Leeds very keen. #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) August 21, 2017
Arnhem-born Grot started his career proper at NEC/Oss Under-17, progressing first through to the Under-19 set-up and in to the NEC Nijmegen side in 2015.
Since promotion to the NEC first-team set-up, Grot has made 35 appearances for the Dutch side, scoring six goals. The bulk of these games and goals came last season when his 20 games produced five goals.
During his time at Nijmegen, he has also featured for the Under-21 side – making 10 appearances, scoring five goals and providing one assist.
It is likely that the youngster is not seen by the Whites as a direct replacement for the departed Wood, Leeds likely exploring different options for that. One of these options seems to be a player closer to home.
United are said to also be interested in Middlesbrough forward Rudy Gestede, a £6 million bid being made as per the following from Ed Aarons – deputy sports editor at the Guardian.
Leeds have made a £6m bid for Middlesbrough striker Rudy Gestede #lufc
— Ed Aarons (@ed_aarons) August 21, 2017
A move for Gestede would make more sense as a direct replacement for Chris Wood, but it is encouraging the Whites are also widening the net in the player hunt.
