Report: Leeds United interested in move to sign AC Milan forward | OneFootball

Leeds United Target Santiago Giménez Ahead of January Window

Santiago Giménez’s desire to reset his European journey has brought Leeds United sharply into focus as the Premier League strugglers explore a solution to their persistent scoring problems. The Mexican striker “wants to leave Milan due to the lack of minutes and because he wants to arrive in good shape for the 2026 World Cup”, a simple ambition framed by deep professional urgency. As reported by Fichajes.

At 24, Giménez is at a pivotal juncture. His time at AC Milan has not unfolded as planned. With “only one goal in eleven matches this season, with 768 minutes played”, his opportunities to establish rhythm have been repeatedly interrupted, compounded further by his current injury setback. That lack of continuity “feeds rumours and awakens appetite among clubs looking to strengthen their attacks”, and Leeds have positioned themselves aggressively.

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Leeds Recruitment Push for Firepower

For Leeds, relegation anxiety underpins every recruitment conversation. Daniel Farke’s side sit in the bottom three with “only fourteen points from fourteen matches”, a bleak return that exposes their struggle to convert endeavour into goals. The logic behind targeting Giménez is clear. As reported, “Leeds United needs goals urgently”, and the Milan forward offers a physical reference point that the squad currently lacks.

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Standing taller and more imposing than Leeds’ typical fleet footed attackers, Giménez brings “youth, power and aerial ability”, attributes that could provide variety to an attack heavily reliant on pace but short of penalty box presence. The argument is tactical as much as statistical. Leeds do not merely need goals, they need a new attacking dimension.

Milan Stance Encourages Move

The environment at Milan may soothe potential negotiations. According to the report, “the Italian club does not see the striker as a priority this year and his agent has already recognised that there are no immediate plans to renew his contract”. Despite Giménez being tied to the Rossoneri until 2029, that apparent shift in internal importance creates an opening.

“The injury and irregularity of the player put pressure on his entourage to find a new destination”, while the approaching World Cup adds urgency to every decision taken. Playing time is no longer a luxury but an essential requirement for maintaining international ambition. A loan or a reduced fee transfer has been floated, reflecting Milan’s willingness to free both salary space and squad positions to accommodate reinforcements elsewhere.

Competition for Signature Builds

Leeds are not acting alone. The striker has also been “offered to West Ham, Fulham and Sunderland”, indicating that intermediaries are canvassing broadly within England. Yet, “the Leeds proposal seems the most concrete”, buoyed by the club’s immediate need and willingness to fast track negotiations.

In this unfolding market, Giménez appears as “one of the protagonists of the upcoming January window”. For the player, the reward could be continuity, renewed profile and competitive visibility within the Premier League. For Leeds, it is a calculated gamble on a forward who has yet to fulfil his European promise but whose qualities align neatly with their requirements.

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Should talks advance swiftly, a deal “could be confirmed before the close of the window”. In pure sporting terms, the fit is compelling. The Yorkshire club “search for goals urgently and Santiago Giménez aspires to resurface”. Both share a mutual sense of necessity, and sometimes that urgency sharpens recruitment more effectively than lofty long term planning ever can.

The conclusion drawn by Fichajes carries weight, “Santiago Giménez emerges as a serious and concrete alternative for a Leeds United that waits no longer”. It paints this as more than speculative interest. This is a professional marriage of need and opportunity, with the Premier League potentially offering redemption for a striker in search of relevance ahead of 2026.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

The words “Leeds United needs goals urgently” ring painfully true. The attacking issues have been obvious for months, intensity without incision, pressure without product. Giménez brings the physical profile fans have been crying out for, a striker who can occupy centre backs rather than drift endlessly between them.

Yet one goal in eleven appearances naturally breeds scepticism. While supporters understand form can be linked to minutes and injuries, there is nervousness about gambling mid season survival on an unproven Premier League forward. Leeds fans do not want another short term fix that fails to integrate into Farke’s pressing system.

Still, the upside is tangible. “Youth, power and aerial ability” are precisely the tools this side lacks. A loan move would feel sensible, limiting risk while offering necessary depth. Fans would also welcome the hunger of a player desperate to rebuild his reputation before the World Cup. Motivation matters when points are scarce.

Ultimately, Leeds supporters crave signs of genuine ambition. If the club act decisively and back the manager with targeted recruitment, this could symbolise more than survival panic, it could reflect a commitment to evolving the squad properly. Giménez may not be the finished product, but his arrival would signal Leeds are finally attacking their problems head on rather than waiting for them to overwhelm the season.