Leeds made approach to sign £21.5m striker that Maradona claims is ‘five times Icardi’

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Bayer Leverkusen striker Lucas Alario has admitted that he was approached by Leeds United in the summer but that talks did not exceed an initial approach – and Leeds fans will rue that decision, given Diego Maradona’s verdict on the Argentine.

Alario, 28, has been in stunning form this season – scoring seven goals in eight matches for Leverkusen, after the exit of Kai Havertz to Chelsea. In his last three Bundesliga outings, Alario has scored five goals for Peter Bosz’s side.

However, it could have been very different. Alario has told TYC Sports that Leeds made an approach in the summer and contacted both Bayer and his agent: “They asked my representative and then the club, but then it didn’t advance much further.”

Alario could have spearheaded Leeds’ first Premier League campaign in 16 years, then. However, the £21.5million (AP News) Leverkusen signing has entered the peak of his career, the form of his life, in black and red.

His form will come as little surprise to that of Maradona. In 2017, the Argentine legend was quoted by CalcioMercato as saying Alario was worth five Mauro Icardi’s: “I like [Diego] Benedetto, the Boca striker, and I also like Alario, they are worth 5 Icardi’s.”

TBR’s view – Alario would be top class, but too expensive?

Bought for a sizeable sum by Leverkusen from River Plate three seasons ago, Alario scored 36 goals across three seasons for Leverkusen and proved that he could hack it in one of Europe’s top leagues.

While that gives more evidence to support Leeds’ case for Alario, it also adds more onto his value. Bayer are hardly in need of money given the sale of Havertz to Chelsea, so Alario is likely to cost more than £30million. That is expensive.

Leeds have already paid more than £100million this summer and have a striker on fire in Patrick Bamford. Unless Leeds feel they desperately need a striker, Alario should not be a main priority as of yet.