Leeds ready to bid for £17m Parrott alternative

Leeds United have had a real problem in front of goal this season. The Whites are one of the strugglers in the Premier League, and look like they’ll be dragged into a relegation battle in their first season back in the top flight.

Indeed, finding the back of the net has been a real issue for Daniel Farke’s side. They’ve only scored ten times in the 2025/26 season, a tally that is only better than rock-bottom Wolverhampton Wanderers.

They’ve underachieved on expected goals, too, which currently sits at 13.36xG.

It is no surprise, then, that the West Yorkshire giants are looking to add a striker to their squad in January.

Leeds’ latest striker target

There have already been rumours swirling about a potential new number nine for Leeds. Indeed, AZ Alkmaar and Republic of Ireland hero Troy Parrott has been linked with the club, after reportedly being looked at in the summer as well.

However, if that move does not materialise, the Whites could instead launch a move for Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Garcia.

TEAMTalk are reporting that the Whites are set to make an ‘imminent’ bid for the Spaniard, after also showing keen interest in him last summer.

However, they are not the only top-flight side looking to move in for the 21-year-old attacker.

Fellow strugglers Wolves and their Midlands rivals, Aston Villa, could make a permanent move, with Brighton preparing a loan bid.

This is a deal that could cost Leeds upwards of £17m this winter.

Why Garcia would be a good signing

It is clear that the Whites are looking to add to their number nine depth, with Garcia seemingly an apt alternative to Parrott. Indeed, he has become a genuine option for Xabi Alonso at the Bernabeu, despite a lack of game time this season.

The Madrid-born striker has made nine appearances for the club this term, but has been on the pitch for just 109 minutes. However, where he made a real name for himself was at the Club World Cup, where he scored four times and assisted one in just six appearances.

This form led writer Zach Lowy to describe him as a “world-class” operator.

Indeed, his underlying numbers from that competition in the summer showed just how good he can be when leading the line.

For example, the 21-year-old had a conversion rate of 44.44% and was a nuisance off the ball, winning 4.4 duels per 90 minutes.

One person who could be affected by this signing is young Leeds striker Harry Gray. The 17-year-old, who is the younger brother of Spurs midfielder Archie, is one of the finest prospects the club have produced in years.

The striker is one of the most highly thought of youngsters in English football. Football analyst Ben Mattinson once described him as “the real deal,” and it is easy to see why.

He has 18 goals in 27 games for the youth teams across his short career at Elland Road so far, including this hat-trick against Scunthorpe United this season.

Should Garcia make the move to Leeds this winter, it could be a concern that he might block the pathway for Gray. The 17-year-old is clearly rated by Farke, who has already given him his first-team debut last season.

Yet, the Spaniard moving to Elland Road could be bad news. This is a player who has broken into the first team at one of the biggest clubs in the world, scoring crucial goals in the Club World Cup.

It will certainly leave Farke with a choice, but perhaps the signing of Garcia is one that the Whites do not want to turn down.

Gray is a talented player, but four years his junior, and it would be understandable if they signed the Los Blancos star, whose arrival could spell bad news for the teenager.