Leeds United are said to be interested in Valentin Castellanos ahead of the summer transfer window...
What's the word?
According to transfer insider Dean Jones, writing for GIVEMESPORT, the New York City striker is 'one to keep an eye on' heading into the off-season, where manager Jesse Marsch will be looking to bolster his squad even more following the early arrival of Brenden Aaronson.
The American midfielder has joined the Yorkshire giants in a £25m deal from RB Salzburg, linking up with his former boss, and now it appears as if he could look back to his roots for another addition.
Premier League rivals West Ham United have also been linked with a move for Castellanos in recent weeks. The Mirror believes the 23-year-old would be available for just £12.8m.
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Bamford upgrade
The Argentine has become something of a sensation at Manchester City's sister club in the United States as he scored 19 goals and assisted a further eight on his way to the MLS Golden Boot, before scoring in all NYCFC's playoff matches to win the title for the very first time.
Such form has continued into the current campaign, where he has bagged a tidy 11 goals across all competitions, also providing five assists, as per Transfermarkt. In total, he's bagged 53 goals for the MLS outfit.
Castellanos' playing style has been compared to one of the Premier League's very best, too.
"He actually reminds me a lot of Didier Drogba, he’s very confident to the point where it could be seen as arrogance but has more than shown his quality the season," claimed MLS UK Show podcaster Henry Hewitt to Manchester Evening News.
"He doesn’t just score one type of goal. He’s strong, quick, good with his head and isn’t afraid to bring his teammates into play."
Nicknamed 'Taty', the prolific marksman has also been lauded as "top class" and "difficult to play against" by his NYCFC manager Ronny Delia, who continues to benefit from his forward's exploits.
Given the lack of involvement from Patrick Bamford in 2021/22, the MLS attacker could be seen as something of an upgrade, having barely missed a game over the past 18 to 24 months.
The injury-plagued Leeds frontman managed only nine appearances in the league this term and his absence almost cost the Yorkshire giants a place in the big time.
In terms of non-penalty expected goals, the Argentine outranks Marsch's current no.9, whilst the NYCFC man also fires off more shots and subsequently, more shots on target than Bamford too, as per FBRef.
Meanwhile, his work rate in the final third is much greater, managing more pressures than the Englishman, making him a far greater fit for Marsch's pressing system.
On the above evidence, Castellanos could be the man to take Leeds to the next level in the attack. Victor Orta and co must pay the bargain fee of £12.8m to seal him from the Hammers' grasp.
AND in other news, Fabrizio Romano drops Kalvin Phillips transfer update...