Agent confirms January transfer for striker being pursued by West Ham, Newcastle, Arsenal, and Manchester United.
The Santos striker Marcos Leonardo’s agent has declared that his client will move clubs “this winter.” According to different sources, Manchester United, Arsenal, Newcastle, and West Ham will all be interested in signing him.
Leonardo, 20, plays for Santos, a Brazilian team, and has made an impressive amount of appearances thus far. Leonardo has played 164 times for Santos despite his young age, scoring 54 goals and dishing out 11 assists.
Leonardo had a fantastic season in Brazil the previous year, scoring 21 goals in 45 games, or just under one goal every two games.
Leonardo has also dazzled for Brazil’s U-20 team, scoring 15 goals in just 13 games.
It should come as no surprise that Leonardo has drawn interest from several Premier League teams as well as teams in Europe.
Sevilla, Real Madrid, and Roma are rumored to be involved when Leonardo departs Santos. Roma reportedly made three bids for the striker over the summer, the highest of which was reportedly worth slightly over €20 million.
But Leonardo had already agreed to stay with Santos until the end of the Brazilian domestic season, according to Rafaela Pimenta, the player’s agent.
“Santos’ sporting situation was very particular, but already in the previous transfer market he had the possibility of being sold,” Pimenta (quoted by The Evening Standard) stated.
“He wanted to assist until the championship was over, so he consented to stay.” It wasn’t the right thing to do, so he didn’t want to go.
But as the Brazilian season draws to an end in early December, the possibility of a January transfer is becoming more real.
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West Ham and Newcastle are acknowledged fans of the Brazilian. The Independent has revealed that Michail Antonio sustained a knee injury while playing for Jamaica during the international break, which may have increased West Ham’s need for a new striker.
Prior to the international break, Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak, two of Newcastle’s top strikers, were both sidelined due to injuries.
Furthermore, Newcastle has demonstrated a willingness to pay substantial fees to sign young, talented players. Examples of that are Tino Livramento (£40 million) and Lewis Hall (loan with purchase obligation at £28 million plus £7 million in add-ons).
But The Standard also mentioned Manchester United and Arsenal, and according to Leonardo’s agent, that’s exactly what he will do if he leaves in January.
But now is the right moment to act, Pimenta said. “This winter will be his chance to experience Europe as he has always wanted to.”
Before allowing Leonardo to leave, Santos will reportedly demand about £17.5 million in addition to a sizable commitment in add-ons, according to Fabrizio Romano.
According to reports, Newcastle and West Ham of the Premier League are prepared to compete with Real Madrid of Spain in an attempt to sign highly-regarded Santos striker Marcos Leonardo.
Despite his youth, the 20-year-old striker has already made over 150 appearances for the Brazilian team and scored 13 goals in 27 matches in the Brazilian top division this year.
Leonardo has also been in good form for Brazil’s Under-20 team and scored five goals in five games at this year’s Under-20 World Cup, despite not having yet made his senior international debut.
After the Brazilian season ends in January, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Leonardo “will leave” Santos. In fact, he disclosed to CaughtOffside that the attacker will only set you back about €20 million (£17.5 million) – though the package will include add-ons.
Leonardo is naturally attracting a lot of interest given his asking price; Newcastle, West Ham, Real Madrid, Sevilla, and Roma are all rumored to be considering making a transfer window raid in January.
Three failed attempts by Roma to sign Leonardo are rumored to have been made over the summer. But a change is anticipated to happen in the upcoming year.
Leonardo described his style of play to FIFA earlier this year, saying that the only thing that counts is seeing the ball enter the goal. It is equally valuable whether it is a tap-in or a wonder-strike. A center forward needs to be a goal scorer.
I’m constantly honing my passing so that I don’t make careless errors on the field while I’m competing. It’s something you must give up.
“Everyone says I’ve improved so much since going professional, but I don’t notice it.
