---
title: "Leeds: Whites could strike gold with Valentin Castellanos move"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-whites-could-strike-gold-with-valentin-castellanos-transfer-news-opinion/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Leeds United News"
published: "2022-06-14T19:22:33Z"
modified: "2022-06-14T19:22:33Z"
---

# Leeds: Whites could strike gold with Valentin Castellanos move

**[Leeds United](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-news/) are ‘frontrunners’ to sign New York City FC striker Valentin Castellanos, and we believe the swoop could be Victor Orta’s best of the summer.**

### The Lowdown: Leeds most interested

The Whites have already signed Brenden Aaronson and Rasmus Kristensen from RB Salzburg in this transfer window and appear to be [closing in](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-news/leeds-marc-roca-transfer-news-orta-whites/) on Bayern Munich midfielder Marc Roca.

A new striker is also on the [agenda](https://twitter.com/PhilHay_/status/1531591329976918017) ahead of Jesse Marsch’s first full season, with the Whites thought to be the [‘most interested’](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-news/leeds-united-valentin-castellanos-transfer-update/) suitor in the race for Castellanos.

Manchester City passed up on their option to sign the 23-year-old from a fellow City Group outfit, while Orta and Angus Kinnear were recently [spotted](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-news/leeds-orta-and-kinnear-spotted-transfer-target/) alongside Leeds director Massimo Marinelli just over five miles from New York City FC’s Yankee Stadium.

### The Latest: Dean Jones comments

Talking to [GiveMeSport](https://www.givemesport.com/88019000-leeds-frontrunners-to-sign-top-class-53-goal-star-at-elland-road) in a story shared late on Sunday evening, journalist Dean Jones said that the Argentine attacker has been ‘scouted by a lot of clubs’ but it is Leeds who ‘are the frontrunners’ when it comes to a potential move.

[![Latest Leeds United updates!](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/cropped-2022-03-10T184055Z_1834933207_UP1EI3A1FW561_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-ENGLAND-LEE-AVA-REPORT-1-scaled-1.jpg)](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-updates-4/)

> “He’s highly thought of and has been scouted by a lot of clubs. Man City are not going for him at this stage, but I think they would have had first option on him, so they’re opening up to other Premier League clubs, and right now, Leeds are the frontrunners.”

### The Verdict: Orta’s best

The Whites are in desperate need of a forward over the coming months, especially with Patrick Bamford missing the majority of last season due to a number of injuries. Bamford managed just [seven](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/patrick-bamford/leistungsdaten/spieler/183334) league starts, with Marsch relying on youngster Joe Gelhardt in the final games of the season.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”398317″\]

Castellanos could be the perfect attacking addition at Elland Road and boasts an extremely impressive goalscoring record in the MLS. He contributed to [27](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/valentin-castellanos/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/522784) MLS goals in [32](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/valentin-castellanos/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/522784) games last year and has [16](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/valentin-castellanos/leistungsdaten/spieler/522784) contributions in [17](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/valentin-castellanos/leistungsdaten/spieler/522784) games in 2022.

Time is also on his side at the age of 23 to improve on his already impressive game, and Castellanos can also play on [either wing](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/valentin-castellanos/profil/spieler/522784) if required. That could be of use, especially with [Jack Harrison](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2022/05/24/newcastle-keen-sign-jack-harrison-despite-leeds-premier-league/) and [Raphinha](https://metro.co.uk/2022/06/11/leeds-set-price-arsenal-man-utd-chelsea-barcelona-raphinha-transfer-16810447/) linked with exits.

With the Argentine striker at the top of his game with a career-high £10.8m [Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/valentin-castellanos/profil/spieler/522784) valuation, a summer swoop could be Orta’s best so far, gaining a versatile asset in red-hot form in a position of need whose market value is only going one direction.

***In other news: [Leeds now won’t sign ‘superb’ midfielder despite Phil Hay revealing talks](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/?p=399622&preview=true)***