Leeds complete Rodrigo transfer in record £36m deal as striker joins from Valencia to boost Bielsa’s attack

LEEDS UNITED have confirmed the £36million club-record signing of Valencia forward Rodrigo.

The 29-year-old has agreed a four year deal with the Premier League new-boys.

Leeds signing Rodrigo from Valencia is sure to raise a few eyebrows

The forward will provide Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa some much-needed options up top, with only Patrick Bamford a regular starter.

Rodrigo has agreed a second stab at the Premier League after scoring just once for Bolton in the top flight during his miserable 2010-11 loan season.

And the ex-Benfica ace’s arrival at Leeds will eclipse the £18m they paid West Ham for England defender Rio Ferdinand in 2000, although £9m of the Rodrigo deal is in add-ons.

Having monitored legends Edinson Cavani and Zlatan Ibrahimovic after winning the Championship, Bielsa will be relieved as well as delighted to finally secure a proven frontman.

Brazil-born Rodrigo has netted eight times in 22 internationals.

And for Valencia he bagged 19 goals in 2017-2018 and 15 the following term, before seven last season, when he missed the closing weeks due to a knee injury.

He is equally at home as a traditional No9 or as a winger.

The LaLiga club are reluctant sellers after making their whole squad available once the financial costs of the coronavirus pandemic hit home.

Spain winger Ferran Torres joined Manchester City, while midfielders Dani Parejo and Francis Coquelin, formerly of Arsenal, moved to league rivals Villarreal.

The signing comes just a day after the Yorkshire side confirmed they had swooped for Arsenal youngster Sam Greenwood.

The 18-year-old striker has signed a three-year contract at Elland Road after joining for an undisclosed fee.

England youth international Greenwood has shone for his country at Under-17 level.

He scored 12 goals in 14 matches and has also featured for the Young Lions at the 2019 European Championships.

That led to interest from Italian giants Milan and the Red Devils, but it was Leeds who have secured the talented teen’s services.

Freiburg defender Robin Koch is also being tipped to head to Elland Road in a £13m deal as Bielsa targets a stronger back-four.