Leeds United could be dealt a body blow as their long-term target Abel Hernandez is likely to move to Russian outfit CSKA Moscow. According to latest reports, the Russian giants have offered him a three-year deal and they are currently leading the race to sign him. This will come as a disappointment to the Whites faithful as they have been hoping to see the Uruguayan turn out at Elland Road in the upcoming season.
Leeds were relatively inactive in the first month of the transfer window as they had to sort out their managerial position. With the appointment of Marcelo Bielsa, they did go on to make their first signing of the season in the form of Lewis Baker who joined on a season-long loan from Chelsea. The Whites are in desperate need of goal scoring options as they struggled to score goals freely last season.
They were looking at Abel Hernandez as someone who could provide the team with 15-20 odd goals and that would have sorted out a lot of headaches for the West Yorkshire outfit. However, now it’s being reported that the Russians will be able to offer €3m a year to the player and that is certainly going to tempt the 27-year-old striker. On top of that, he will have a chance to play in the Champions League for the first time in his career and the Whites surely look to be out of the race now.
The striker missed a good chunk of last season due to long-term injury but he did go on to show his class as he managed 8 goals and 2 assist in 10 appearances. The Tigers would have wanted to hold on to him further but the player is too good to be playing for a side who finished 18th in the Championship.
Hernandez has an experience of playing in the Premier League as well and the Peacocks have missed a huge opportunity by not acting swiftly to sign him. With a chance to play in the Champions League in sight, one can’t bet against him turning down a move to a team who finished 13th in the Championship last season.
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The Whites are also in the race to sign last season’s top goalscorer Matej Vydra but they are likely to come out second best in that deal as well. Kemar Roofe was the top scorer for Leeds in the last campaign as he managed 11 goals in the Championship and apart from him, none of the players even touched the 10 goal mark. Maybe now it is time for Leeds to look somewhere else to sign an established and proven striker.
