PL club plans record offer for Leeds 25-year-old after budget is boosted – report

Sun 6 August 2017 8:52, UK

By Danny Wright

Brighton manager Chris Hughton has stepped up his pursuit of Leeds striker Chris Wood, according to a report.

The Sun claims that the Premier League club are plotting a “record-breaking” move for the 25-year-old, who has proven himself to be one of the key players in the Whites’ squad in recent seasons.

It is understood that Seagulls boss Hughton has seen his transfer budget boosted and he is now keen on spending £12million on Wood.

The report adds that Brighton see the New Zealand international as the perfect player to lead their attacking line ahead of the new Premier League season, which kicks off next week when Hughton’s men take on title favourites Manchester City at the AMEX.

The Mirror has recently reported that Besiktas are also in the race for Wood, but add that Leeds have placed a £20million price-tag on their talismanic striker, who scored 30 goals across all competitions last season.

Brighton would be well short of that valuation if they were to go ahead with the £12million offer that was reported by the Sun.

Football Insider Verdict

Leeds are completely within their right to put such a big price-tag on Wood. Brighton would be nowhere near it with a £12million offer, which is pretty derogatory when you see that Middlesbrough spent more on Britt Assombalonga earlier this summer. With the Championship season about to kick off for Leeds, it’s fair to say that Thomas Christiansen and Andrea Radrizzani are now happy with the squad that they have to hand and probably won’t be expected to let anyone else leave, with a couple of incoming players perhaps still needed. Leeds can’t really afford to lose Wood, even to injury, this season as there are no real back-up options that have shown they are capable of finding the net consistently. Another striker might be needed in the coming weeks.