Leeds ‘attentive’ to situation of €10m winger Gonzalo Plata and could ‘accelerate’

Leeds United are a threat to Real Valladolid for the permanent transfer of Sporting CP winger Gonzalo Plata, reports claim.

Plata has been a Sporting player since January 2019, when they brought him to Europe from Independiente del Valle in his native Ecuador. For the 2021-22 season, the Portuguese outfit loaned him to Valladolid in the Spanish second division.

Valladolid finished second to earn promotion and are now building a squad for their La Liga return. Keeping Plata could be part of their plans.

According to journalist Cesar Luis Merlo, Valladolid have told Sporting they intend to keep Plata. What’s more, the winger would like to remain in Spain.

However, Valladolid cannot afford to pay the €10m option to buy. Their only method of keeping him would be some form of co-ownership deal.

There is no guarantee that such a strategy would get them their man, though. And O Jogo have reminded that Leeds are in contention to sign Plata for the upcoming Premier League season.

Plata recently emerged as a possible Leeds target in reports late last month. Therefore, they could take encouragement from Valladolid’s struggles to keep him permanently.

According to O Jogo, Leeds are “attentive” to the situation and have the potential to “accelerate” their interest.

The 21-year-old is only under contract with Sporting for one more year. Therefore, it may make sense for them to sell him this summer.

The €10m fee that has been proposed would equate to around £8.6m in Leeds’ money. He would thus be an affordable target.

Whether he is ready to compete at the level Leeds require remains to be seen. They narrowly avoided relegation to the Championship last season and will have to strengthen their squad ahead of the new campaign.

Plata