Pundit: Leeds have made Rodrigo blunder after embarrassing reveal
Leeds United made a mistake by spending £27million on Rodrigo, according to Gabby Agbonlahor.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Aston Villa and England attacker suggested Rodrigo’s presence in the starting XI is pointless if he does not score goals.
The forward’s barren run in front of goal continued against Southampton – his seventh Premier League game without finding the net.
In the 1-0 defeat at St. Mary’s the 30-year-old managed just 22 touches of the ball – fewer than any other starter across both teams, including goalkeeper Illan Meslier, according to sofascore.
Rodrigo moved to Leeds for a reported club-record fee of £27million from Valencia last summer.
He managed seven Premier League goals last term but four of them came in the final four games of the season when the Whites were comfortable.
Asked whether he thought Leeds had made a mistake by signing Rodrigo for such a big fee, Agbonlahor told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley: “I think so.
“He shows some good touches and stuff but you need to score goals. If you don’t score goals there’s no point being in the team.
“You don’t want him to just be a hard worker who can press without getting the goals.
“I think Leeds need to get to January and try to get reinforcements. Bielsa doesn’t look like he’s doing the job he was doing last season.”
Rodrigo is under contract at Elland Road until the summer of 2024 after penning a four-year deal last August.
The Brazil-born Spain international has 25 caps to his name but has dropped out of the squad in recent months.
In other news, Leeds United are in ‘big danger’ of relegation after a transfer blunder.