‘Rodrigo Muniz pressure ramps up as Bamford joins Mateo Joseph at Leeds exit door’
The pressure on Leeds United to sign a new striker has increased with two of their existing options now nearing an exit from the club.
The Whites won the Championship title last season to earn promotion back to the Premier League at the second time of asking.
A standout feature of Leeds‘ success was the whopping 95 goals they scored, leaving them at least 24 clear of any other team and undoubtedly contributing to their 100-point total.
But Leeds will be well aware that the last six promoted teams have all suffered an immediate relegation back to the Championship, and that a proven Premier League goalscorer will be vital to their survival hopes.
Leeds readying double striker sale
The pressure on Leeds to bring in a new No.9 has now ramped up.
Spain youth international Mateo Joseph appears to be engineering an exit from Elland Road, failing to turn up to their pre-season training camp in Germany amid interest from Real Betis.
Joseph only scored three Championship goals last season, but boasts a strong record at youth national team level for Spain and England, and is highly thought of at Leeds.
What’s more, Leeds also look set to part ways with Patrick Bamford this summer.
Bamford has fallen down the pecking order at Elland Road and has been primed for a transfer away for some time. However, that was likely under the premise that Joseph would be staying, meaning his additional departure would further eat into Daniel Farke’s depth up front.
Former Premier League scout Mick Brown recently told Football Insider that Wrexham are lining up a bid for Bamford.
Rodrigo Muniz pressure increases
Leeds have signed Lukas Nmecha from Wolfsburg on a free transfer this summer. However, the 26-year-old has only ever played twice in the Premier League and managed just three Bundesliga goals last season.
Farke needs more, and Fulham’s Rodrigo Muniz appears to be Leeds’ prime target right now.
The Brazilian has been a solid source of goals for the Cottagers over the past two seasons, registering nine and eight in the Premier League during those respective campaigns — increasing his tallies to 10 and 11 across all competitions.
| Fulham stats | Rodrigo Muniz |
| Appearances | 97 |
| Goals | 26 |
| Assists | 3 |
But Muniz has just one year remaining on his contract, and with Marco Silva understood to be in the market for a new striker, now may be the best time to cash in.
With that in mind, Muniz could prove a budget-friendly, Premier League-proven option to lead the line for Leeds next season as Farke aims to buck the trend of promoted teams going straight back down.