Terms Agreed; Bid Submitted – Leeds United Submit £26m Bid for Fulham Outstanding Player That Would SHAKE EPL

Leeds United Submit £26m Bid for Rodrigo Muniz – But Fulham Reject Approach for “Horrible to Play Against” Striker

Leeds United have had an opening offer for Fulham striker Rodrigo Muniz turned down, as the Whites ramp up their pursuit of attacking reinforcements ahead of their Premier League return.

Sources close to the deal confirmed that Leeds tabled a bid worth £26million, with an additional £6million in performance-related add-ons, as part of a bold move to prise the Brazilian forward away from Craven Cottage. However, Fulham swiftly rejected the approach, viewing Muniz as one of their most valuable assets heading into the new season.

The 24-year-old striker has become a key figure in Marco Silva’s squad, with 17 Premier League goals across the last two seasons. His form has not only cemented his place in Fulham’s plans but has also drawn high praise from Premier League legend Alan Shearer.

Speaking in 2024, Shearer was full of admiration for Muniz’s combative playing style, stating:

“He really was a handful. Tough to play against, horrible to play against in fact. That’s always a good thing for a centre-forward, that’s what you have to be.

“He was strong, he ran the channels, he brought players into the game and he really upset the Bournemouth defenders in every way, in everything he was doing.

“He was willing to run in behind and on one of the occasions he does it, they get their first goal because of it. They [Fulham] got balls into the box for him and he was first to react. He understood the situation and got there first. He was barging defenders out of the way and I really enjoyed his performance. That’s what you have to do.”

While Fulham have no urgent need to sell, insiders acknowledge the possibility of letting Muniz go should an offer “too good to refuse” arrive later in the window. For now, though, Leeds are expected to move on to alternative targets.

Muniz, who helped Fulham win the Championship title in 2021/22, featured 31 times in the Premier League last season, scoring eight goals in just 950 minutes of action. His ability to impact games despite limited starts has made him an appealing option for clubs seeking a powerful and mobile No.9.

Daniel Farke is keen to bolster his attacking options, with newly signed Lukas Nmecha arriving from Wolfsburg on a free transfer. The German forward will compete with Joel Piroe, Patrick Bamford, and Mateo Joseph for minutes, but Leeds remain intent on securing another proven top-flight striker to ease the goalscoring burden.

The Elland Road club have already agreed terms for centre-back Jaka Bijol from Udinese, following weeks of negotiations. With Nmecha and Bijol incoming, Leeds’ intent to make a serious splash in the Premier League is clear.

The rejection of their Muniz bid may be a setback, but with the 49ers Enterprises showing a willingness to spend, the summer is far from over.

Leeds’ Premier League campaign begins with a home clash against Everton, and recruitment efforts will continue at pace as they prepare for a competitive top-flight return.