Leeds transfer sensation: Huge contract to be dangled in front of striker to sign him – report
By Alex Stevens
A huge contract will be dangled in front of Leeds striker Chris Wood to persuade him to move to China, according to a report.
The Mirror claim on their transfer news blog that Wood is a firm target for Chinese club Tianjin Quanjian, who are managed by ex-Italy World Cup Winner Fabio Cannavaro.
It is said that the super-rich Far East outfit are “prepared to dangle a huge contract” to prise Wood from Elland Road and take him to China.
It emerged on Friday that Wood had been targeted by Tianjin Quanjian after they had been frustrated in their mega-money pursuit of Diego Costa from Chelsea.
It comes after speculation earlier in the week that West Ham and Sunderland had made enquiries for the Leeds spearhead and were told it would take £15million to sign him.
The Mirror report that Leeds manager Garry Monk is facing a “headache” due to the size of the deal that is set to be offered by Tianjin to Wood, who is contracted to the Yorkshire giants until 2019.
The forward, who signed for Leeds from Leicester in the summer of 2015, has been an integral member of the team that has punched above their weight to challenge for promotion this season.
Wood has overcome a sticky start to the season to score 17 goals in 29 games in all competitions in 2016-17, to firmly establish himself as Leeds’ main striker.
He has scored 14 times in the Championship at a rate of a goal every 138 minutes, one of the best records in the second tier.
It is enough to place the striker, 25, near the top of the Championship scoring charts, with his tally bettered only by Dwight Gayle (20), Glenn Murray (15) and Tammy Abraham (15).
Leeds manager Garry Monk has made it clear that he is in the market for attacking reinforcement this month, and is “definitely” trying to bring in a striker as cover for Wood, who is expected to spearhead the attack in Saturday evening’s Yorkshire derby against Barnsley at Oakwell.
Football Insider verdict:
At first glance, £15m might appear a fanciful valuation of a player who was so heavily criticised by his own fans in the early weeks of the season. But Wood has been revived by Monk and his coaching staff, and is developing into a striker every Championship club would love to have in their ranks. Is he a big name that the Chinese league and it supporters would salivate over? No. Wood is a fine striker in the Championship and a demon in the air but he is no Diego Costa, that’s for sure. But money talks and Leeds could soon have a major decision to make about their Kiwi front man.
In other Leeds transfer news, Monk has made a shock transfer revelation after meeting with new owner Andrea Radrizzani.
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