Leeds United appear to be turning their attention towards targets at the top end of the pitch after signing three defenders to bolster their options at the back.
Gabriel Gudmundsson, Jaka Bijol, and Sebastiaan Bornauw have arrived at Elland Road to improve Daniel Farke’s rearguard, whilst striker Lukas Nmecha has also joined on a free transfer.
The Whites are now ready to target players in the attacking areas of the pitch in order to build a team that is capable of avoiding an instant relegation from the Premier League.
Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Graham Symth recently revealed that the Championship champions have made contact with the agents of Feyenoord winger Igor Paixao.
The reporter then added that the Whites are willing to pursue a deal for the Brazilian forward in spite of the fact that he is currently rehabbing from an injury.
What Igor Paixao could bring to Leeds
If Leeds can follow up on this interest by getting a deal over the line for the Feyenoord sensation before the end of the summer transfer window, Farke could have an exciting left winger at his disposal.
The 25-year-old flanker ended the 2024/25 campaign with an eye-catching haul of 18 goals and 19 assists in 47 appearances in all competitions for the Dutch side, which included 16 goals and 14 assists in the Eredivisie.
Paixao is a right-footed left winger who likes to cut inside from the left to deliver goals and assists on a regular basis, which he did to great effect in the Netherlands last season.
Leeds need a player who brings those qualities to the team after Manor Solomon returned to Tottenham Hotspur at the end of last season, after he spent the term on loan at Elland Road.
Appearances
34
39
xG
10.56
8.15
Goals
16
10
Big chances created
12
21
Assists
10
12
Key passes per game
1.7
1.8
As you can see in the table above, Paixao has the potential to offer similar levels of quality to the Israel international as a scorer and a creator of goals, albeit he is more geared towards scoring than creating in comparison to the Spurs winger.
However, the Brazilian has not played in a European league outside of the Netherlands and there is no guarantee that his form will translate over to England, as Luis Sinisterra has produced eight goals and three assists in 51 games in the Premier League since his move from Feyenoord.
This is why the Whites could land an even better player for their attack amid their interest in a star who has already proven themselves in England.
Leeds hopeful of signing Premier League striker
According to LeedsUnitedNews, the club have made ‘progress’ in their pursuit of a deal for Fulham centre-forward Rodrigo Muniz ahead of next season.
The Whites are interested in adding the Brazilian marksman to their squad to lead the line for them in the Premier League, and are continuing to pursue a move for the Cottagers ace.
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This latest report claims that Leeds are ‘hopeful’ of concluding a deal for the 26-year-old number nine, who has indicated that he would be interested in a move to Elland Road.
It states that Muniz wants to be the main man if he moves to a new club, having played second fiddle to Raul Jimenez at Craven Cottage last season, and that could work to Farke’s advantage.
LeedsUnitedNews adds that the club are stepping up their efforts to sign the Fulham attacker, who has been valued at £50m this summer, and are ‘edging closer’ to a deal.
Why Muniz would be a better signing than Paixao for Leeds
Whilst Paixao would be an exciting signing for Leeds, because of the numbers he put up in the Netherlands last season, Muniz would be an even better signing for the club because he is a proven Premier League talent.
As aforementioned, there is no telling how the Feyenoord attacker will adapt to life in England. There is no guarantee that he will deliver 18 goals and 19 assists for Leeds, given Sinisterra’s struggles after making the same switch from Feyenoord to West Yorkshire a few years ago.
This means that he would be a risky signing for the club to make, but with the potential to be an excellent addition, whilst Muniz would be a fairly ‘safe’ move for the Whites to complete this summer.
The Fulham striker has been there and done it in the Premier League, proving that he can score goals against the standard of defenders in the English top-flight, which is why he would be such a crucial signing for Leeds.
Appearances
26
31
Starts
18
8
xG
8.72
5.81
Goals
9
8
Minutes per goal
179
121
Big chances created
2
1
Assists
1
1
Duel success rate
39%
52%
As you can see in the table above, Muniz has scored 17 goals in just 26 starts in the division since the start of the 2023/24 campaign, rotating with Jimenez at Craven Cottage.
Leeds could offer him the chance to be the main man, starting almost every game if fit and available, and that could provide him with the opportunities to hit double figures for goals, given his impressive output in limited minutes at Fulham.
These statistics show why Muniz is an even better player for Leeds to target this summer because he has a track record that suggests that he can hit the ground running and deliver quality on a regular basis in the Premier League.
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Again, that is not to say that Paixao will be a bad signing, as they could both arrive and form a lethal partnership at the top end of the pitch, but there appears to be far less risk attached to a move for the Fulham striker.
