Leeds United’s pursuit of Taty Castellanos has culminated in a noteworthy development, with a £25 million transfer deal being finalized. The club has been keen on securing the services of the Argentine striker since his tenure at New York City FC, and he has once again emerged as a potential January signing for the Whites.
Manager Daniel Farke has been particularly vocal about his desire to bolster the team’s attacking options, with the addition of a forward being a top priority in the ongoing transfer window. While the need for a new centre-back has also been considered, Leeds had been engaged in a competitive race against West Ham to secure Castellanos’ transfer from Lazio to the Premier League.
The latest reports suggest that West Ham has succeeded in securing a deal for the 27-year-old striker, leaving Leeds to explore alternative options despite their persistent pursuit. The Hammers have reportedly agreed on a significant fee of £25 million, prevailing over Leeds in the battle for Castellanos’ signature.
Castellanos, who has netted two goals in 11 Serie A appearances this season, had a successful loan spell at Girona in the 2022/23 season, scoring 13 goals in La Liga. Although he faced a slow start in Italy during the subsequent year, he bounced back with 10 Serie A goals last season after overcoming an injury setback in the first half of the current campaign.
Currently, Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been leading Leeds’ attack in recent weeks, showcasing an impressive scoring streak until the New Year’s day matchup against Liverpool ended in a goalless draw at Anfield. With the need to secure a replacement target in the goal-scoring department becoming imperative, the club’s management led by Farke must act swiftly to address this void left by Calvert-Lewin’s temporary halt in goal-scoring.
While potential signings like Terem Moffi, Josh Sargent, and Troy Parrott have been linked with a move to Elland Road this month, Leeds’ positive trajectory since embarking on an unbeaten run should serve as a valuable asset in attracting new recruits. However, given Farke’s past frustrations with key positions remaining unfulfilled on deadline days, Leeds faces the pressure of conducting their transfer business promptly this time to avoid any similar setbacks.
