The relegated £35m star Leeds United could now sign - and whether he’d actually be worth it
Leeds have been linked with a midfielder who has just been relegated with Wolves - would he be worth £35m?
Barring an unlikely and deeply unfortunate series of late-season results, Leeds United are safe – a success which could set the club on course for a lengthy stay in the top flight if they play their cards right over the summer. And according to fresh reports, they could already have one big transfer target in their sights.
Brazilian outlet RTI Esporte allege that Daniel Farke’s side are preparing to launch a bid for André Trindade, the Brazilian midfielder who was recently relegated with Wolves. A £35m price tag has been floated, a substantial outlay – but would he succeed in helping Leeds to flourish in the Premier League after failing to keep Wolves out of the bottom three, and how likely is it that a deal takes place?
Could André Trindade be on his way to Leeds this summer?
Before André pitched up at the Molineux, he had been linked with a number of different Premier League sides, with Liverpool often mentioned as a suitor – and now, with Wolves plunging down into the Championship, he seems likely to be on the move again.
While RTI Esporte suggest Leeds, specifically, they aren’t the only Brazilian media outlet to report that Wolves are looking to sell after their relegation was confirmed. ESPN Brasil back up the claim that not only is André available, but that the £35m asking price is in the right ballpark.
Sport Witness also corral different reports from South America which suggest that Juventus are keen, too, while it’s even alleged that Liverpool could take another look after supposedly showing renewed interest in January. Leeds could, in other words, face some competition.
With just one source suggesting Leeds as a likely destination, it’s difficult to establish just how deep their interest goes, but the same holds true for clubs like Liverpool and Juventus. Elite sides ultimately looked elsewhere while André was building his reputation with Fluminense in his home country, and while he has performed perfectly well in England he hasn’t necessarily shone as bright as some observers believe that he might have.
The £35m transfer fee shouldn’t be too high for Leeds assuming that survival is ensured, but they may still have a difficult time persuading André to head to Elland Road rather than Anfield or the Allianz Stadium. If those claims end up proving to be overblown, however, then there is no particular barrier to a bid – and it’s almost impossible to imagine the 24-year-old staying with Wolves.
He’ll be headed somewhere this summer, and Leeds is as plausible a destination as any, even if just one media outlet so far have claimed that they’re in the running. But would he be the kind of signing that could help Leeds to continue their progress in the Premier League?
Is André a player that would improve Leeds?
While it’s always easy to look askance at players who have been relegated, it’s fair to say that Wolves’ troubles can’t be laid at André’s feet – he has formed a highly effective midfield partnership with João Gomes (another Brazilian midfielder set to leave the Molineux in the coming months) and on paper, the work the pair did over the past year was very strong. Wolves had issues just about everywhere else, but their tenacious midfield wasn’t a problem.
André’s ability to break up play and shut down opposing attacks is beyond question. His 186 ball recoveries so far this season is more than any other player in the Premier League, his 75 tackles puts him 15th in the division, and he’s strong in one-on-one situations. Playing for a struggling side can inflate a player’s defensive stats somewhat – they have more chances to make tackles, for instance, when they spend so much time under the cosh – but André has been consistently impressive defensively since arriving in 2024.
His passing is economical and accurate, too, and his 91% pass completion rate nestles him just outside the top flight’s Top 10. If Leeds want a defender who can shut opposing teams down and avoid conceding possession, then André fits the bill.
The question is whether that’s really what Leeds need, and whether the Brazilian can elevate the club rather than simply solidify them. Although a precise passer, his accuracy is also a product of his lack of willingness to take difficult balls on, and he has failed to prove himself as a creative force with Wolves. He keeps things simple, but he doesn’t generate chances.
Leeds have already worked out how to defend their goal, and Farke’s mid-season switch to a rigid 3-5-2 formation has worked wonders while coming at a cost: Leeds are very tough to break down, but lack attacking spark.
Leeds have players who can do the hard yards in defence. André may well be better than those already on the books, but one wonders whether what they really need isn’t a purely defensive midfielder, but one who can progress play, carry the ball upfield and create opportunities for the strikers. André would help Leeds to continue being difficult to beat, but he wouldn’t help them win matches.
For £35m, he would represent a conservative, risk-averse signing. Perhaps that’s sensible as Leeds consolidate their position, but eventually they’ll have to find players who can take a team that’s tough to beat and build into something more.
Signing André wouldn’t prevent them from finding some more creative and incisive players, but it would take up a chunk of the transfer budget that could be used to buy them. Whether they do indeed make a move or not could tell us a lot about their ambitions for the year ahead – and the kind of team they intend to be moving forward.