Leeds United were linked to numerous strikers this summer, but in the end, it was Rodrigo who joined the Yorkshire outfit.Before they signed Rodrigo, they were after another Spaniard in the shape of Raul de Tomas, and they weren’t the only ones.West Brom also had an interest in the Espanyol star, but it’s now been revealed why the striker didn’t move this summer.

What’s the story then?

Sportsfinding are reporting that the forward attempted to leave Espanyol this summer, but his sizeable wages and Espanyol’s reluctance to sell put a number of potential suitors off.

The report claims that he currently has a six-year-deal on €6m (£5.5m), with a 40% reduction in the event of relegation, a clause that will have been activated at the end of last season.

Leeds should’ve signed him

De Tomas’ wages will have dropped 40%, meaning he should now be on €3.4m (£3.1m) a year, which works out to just under £60k a week - a figure that really shouldn’t have put Leeds off.

United are reportedly paying Rodrigo double that amount, and De Tomas may actually have been the better option.

The former Benfica man spent only half a season in La Liga last term, but he still managed to score just as many as Rodrigo, while also outperforming him on other vital metrics.

De Tomas averaged 1.3 more dribbles per game than his fellow countryman, and the 25-year-old’s dribbling ability shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone.

Dribbling is listed as one of his strengths on WhoScored, and we can completely understand why, he seems to have a sixth sense on how to beat a man, perfectly encapsulated by a ridiculous nutmeg he pulled off on Bruno Fernandes back when both were playing in Portugal, leaving the Manchester United star on the floor utterly embarrassed.

The Espanyol forward also averaged one more shot per game than the former Valencia man, showing that he’s better at getting into positions, despite playing for a club that scored 21 goals fewer than Rodrigo's team last term, meaning that his service will have been rather poor.

With the £10.8m-rated attacker also being four years younger than Rodrigo, Leeds may regret not bringing him in for years to come.