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Leeds linked with Rodrigo amid Valencia’s financial crisis

Marcelo Bielsa reportedly wants to acquire the Spain international in time for the opening day trip to Liverpool.

Valencia CF v Athletic Club - La Liga
Rodrigo (right) in La Liga action for Valencia against Athletic Club at Estadio Mestalla on July 1, 2020.
Photo by David Aliaga/MB Media/Getty Images

Valencia striker Rodrigo has become the latest big name to be linked with a summer move to Leeds United.

The Whites’ 2001 Champions League semi-final opponents are in dire straits, with their long-term financial issues being amplified by the coronavirus pandemic.

As a result, the Spanish outfit are looking to balance the books, and have already sold Ferran Torres, Francis Coquelin and Dani Parejo in recent weeks.

Rodrigo could be next, and Sky Sports’ Gianluca Di Marzio believes Leeds have a firm interest in the 29-year-old.

The Real Madrid academy product has been at Valencia since joining on loan from Benfica in 2014, and has scored 59 goals in 220 matches across all competitions for Los Che.

His greatest return of goals came in the 17/18 campaign; while Paul Heckingbottom was holding the reins at Elland Road, Rodrigo was on his way to scoring 19 league and cup goals.

The former Bolton Wanderers loanee also boasts plenty of international experience, having scored eight goals in 22 caps for Spain since making his senior bow in 2014.

Rodrigo, who has two years left on his contract, might be available for a cut-price fee due to Valencia’s off-the-pitch problems.

However, a weekly wage of £113k could be off-putting for the Peacocks, and the player was linked with a move to Barcelona as recently as January.

A member of Spain’s 2018 World Cup squad, Rodrigo is blessed with blistering pace that could prove appealing to Marcelo Bielsa.

Only time will tell if this latest big-name transfer rumour will become a reality. Would you want to see Rodrigo in a Leeds shirt? Do you think it is even remotely possible? Who would you like Leeds to sign as an alternative? Let us know on Twitter using @ThruItAllLUFC