Leeds United transfer news: Lazio reject Felipe Caicedo edging closer to Elland Road move
New Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa wants the former Manchester City striker back up north
Felipe Caicedo is on his way to Leeds from Lazio, if reports in the Italian press are to be believed.
Saturday’s edition of Il Tempo declared the Ecuadorian was on his way out of Serie A and leaning ‘more and more’ towards signing for the Whites after being transfer listed at the end of the season.
Leeds are keen to bolster their ailing strikeforce after finding the net only 59 times in 46 Championship matches last season, making the departure of talisman Chris Wood felt more deeply.
But powerhouse Caicedo, 29, scored six times in 33 appearances for Lazio last season, and as most of these were as a substitute, that equates to a goal every 216 minutes.
He has only been at the Serie A outfit for a year after arriving from Espanyol for €2.5 million last summer, but the former Manchester City player would reportedly ‘welcome the possibility’ of a move back to England.
He made 35 appearances for City and scored on seven occasions, including four Premier League goals.
And he is seen as an easier target for Leeds after CSKA Moscow joined the race for Uruguayan free agent Abel Hernandez, who left Hull City at the end of the season and is demanding £40,000 a week.
His agent told Brazilian outlet Diario Carioca: “Hernandez is not a CSKA player yet but we received a good offer from them.
“We are delighted with this interest. Let’s just wait.”
Wherever Hernandez ends up, it seems clear that new Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa is happy to raid his former side Lazio to get Caicedo’s signature.
The 68-cap Ecuadorian may have little English experience, but his immense physicality and aerial ability make him well suited to the gritty world of Championship football.
