Why Andrea Petagna is not an affordable option for Leeds United

According to Leeds Live, Leeds United have tabled a €15million offer for Italian centre-forward Andre Petagna, with the report claiming that the Whites are trying to make a massive statement of intent before the transfer deadline in August. 

Petagna completed a permanent €12million transfer to S.P.A.L 2013 from Atalanta earlier this summer following a hugely impressive campaign in the Serie A last term.

The 24-year-old centre-forward racked up a career-best tally of 17 goals in all competitions to help S.P.A.L beat the drop comfortably in the Serie A and his prolific form earned him a permanent move to the club.

Petagna’s heroics in the previous campaign also caught the attention of some of the Premier League clubs, with Leicester City believed to be among those to have been credited with an interest in the Italian earlier in the year. (h/t Leeds Live)

However, the striker might end up playing the Championship next season, with Leeds now in the hunt, although Leeds Live suggests that S.P.A.L have slapped a daunting €22million price tag on the 24-year-old to ward off interest. 

Leeds have already brought in the likes of Helder Costa, Ben White and Jack Harrison on season-long loan deals from Wolves, Brighton and Man City respectively but they have now taken everybody by surprise with an audacious approach to sign the Serie A frontman.

Petagna began his career with AC Milan but he struggled for first-team opportunities at the San Siro and spent time on loan at Sampdoria, Latina, Vicenzo and Ascoli before joining Atalanta in 2016. 

His stint at Atalanta didn’t prove to be a particularly fruitful one, though, with the striker managing just 11 goals in 75 appearances in all competitions before moving out on loan to S.P.A.L last summer. 

To put things into perspective, it doesn’t require a rocket scientist to figure out that Andrea Petagna would be a massive coup for Leeds United this summer and certainly an ideal solution to their No.9 woes. 

However, realistically speaking, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of truth in those speculations and, in all honesty, it would be a real shame if Petagna chooses to move to England’s second-tier this summer, having enjoyed the most prolific season of his career in the Serie A the last term. 

The lure of playing in the Premier League and the riches on offer in the top-flight would have suited both parties perfectly well.

Since the Yorkshire giants fell agonisingly short in their pursuit of promotion last season, Marcelo Bielsa might as well turn his attention to more affordable targets in the transfer window. 

As evident from the report, S.P.A.L are in a strong negotiating position over Petagna and are apparently trying to play hardball with any potential suitor, with the Serie A outfit holding out for a fee close to €22 million. 

Well, that kind of an asking price is expected to remind Leeds that they are still in the Championship and the fact that they can ill-afford to make such audacious bids for top-quality players across the continent. 

Conclusion

Indeed, Leeds need to bring in an out-and-out centre-forward this summer to operate as the focal point of their attack in the Championship next season. 

Last season’s top-scorer Kemar Roofe is expected to spearhead the Whites promotion challenge next term as well, although one does get the feeling that the Yorkshire giants need a powerful presence up top to complement Roofe and provide that much-needed poaching threat inside the box.

To Read More Leeds United News, Click Here:- Latest Leeds United News

Petagna is capable of doing both but given that he is not an affordable option for Leeds, the Whites should simply drop their interest in the Italian and look at some homegrown players to solve their problems.