Leeds United have had a strange old summer. Last season was a heartbreaking one for the Yorkshire outfit, blowing their automatic promotion hopes before slumping to yet another playoff final defeat. And things have gone from bad to worse following several player sales that have rocked the club.
Over £100m has been accumulated in transfers so far this summer. Teenage midfielder Archie Gray left for Tottenham Hotspur, while wingers Crysencio Summerville and Luis Sinisterra have also departed for the Premier League, to West Ham United and Bournemouth respectively. However, the latest in a long line of departures is striker Georginio Rutter. The French forward recently had his £40m release clause in his contract triggered by Brighton, and he too departed.
The move makes the former Hoffenheim man the most expensive striker Leeds have ever sold. But who were the previous top three on that list?
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
Even though the deal was completed over 25 years ago, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s £10m move from Leeds to Atletico Madrid remains the club’s third biggest-ever striker sale. The maverick Dutchman enjoyed a stellar maiden year in the Spanish capital following his mega-money move, winning the Golden Boot award despite Los Rojiblancos suffering a shock relegation.The current England coach would then move on to Chelsea and further enhance his reputation, and boy how the Blues could do with a prime version of the Suriname-born striker in their lineup today. Without a bonafide superstar up top, the West London outfit finds itself as the outright favourite in the latest Conference League odds betting lists, a far cry from their days as Champions League heavy hitters.
Ross McCormack
Ross McCormack's £12 million switch to Fulham in 2014 was another landmark deal. Having been a standout performer for Leeds following his £300k move from Cardiff City four years prior, the Scotsman became one of the most sought-after strikers in the second tier courtesy of his goalscoring exploits. He bagged a mighty 28 goals in the 2013/14 season, attracting the attention of newly relegated Fulham, with the West London outfit identifying him as the ideal catalyst to spearhead their promotion charge back to the top flight.McCormack’s arrival at Craven Cottage was a statement of intent, reflecting the club's determination to bounce back swiftly. Despite the hefty fee, which was a club record for Fulham at the time, McCormack's ability to find the net and his leadership on the pitch justified the investment. He netted 17 times in his maiden campaign at Craven Cottage, however, their immediate return to the Premier League didn't materialize as hoped. He went on to score a further 21 goals the following campaign before making yet another big-money move to Aston Villa.
Chris Wood
New Zealand striker Chris Wood – much like McCormack before him – is another striker who improved no end during his time at Elland Road. He was brought in from Leicester City for £2.5m one year on from McCormack's departure, and he hit the ground running, netting 13 goals in his maiden campaign. However, it was his second season in which he set the world alight.Wood fired a whopping 27 goals in 44 appearances in the 2016/17 season. prompting Burnley to stump up £15m to secure his services and make him their record signing. The transfer was pivotal for the Clarets who were securing the services of a prolific scorer in the Championship, hoping that he would provide them with the firepower needed to bolster their Premier League survival ambitions. Ultimately, he did exactly that and more, helping Burnley finish seventh in his maiden season to secure Europa League qualification.
Wood hit double figures in his first four seasons in the top flight at Turf Moor, cementing his status as a genuine top-flight striker. Following the club's relegation in 2018, the New Zealand international moved on to Newcastle United, before moving once again to Nottingham Forest two years later, where he finds himself still on the scoresheet.