Statement released as Leeds United's Premier League relegation rivals suffer crushing £50m injury blow
One Leeds United summer transfer target and key striker for a relegation rival needs surgery.
Fulham striker and Leeds United summer transfer target Rodrigo Muniz is set to undergo surgery on a hamstring injury, his club have confirmed.
Leeds were heavily interested in a summer move for Muniz but after remaining patient for several weeks, moved on amid Fulham’s reluctance to sell and a reported £50million-plus price-tag. The Whites eventually signed Dominic Calvert-Lewin as a free agent and while the 28-year-old arrived with fitness questions, he has featured in each of the last nine games.
Muniz was forced off towards the end of Fulham’s 2-0 defeat at Everton last weekend, having only come off the bench 17 minutes prior. The Brazilian striker had only just returned from missing four games through September and October due to a hamstring issue which appears to have returned, only this time more severe.
A statement from Fulham read: “The Club can provide an update on Rodrigo Muniz’s injury. Rodrigo underwent scans and the Club sought specialist opinion following our game at Everton last weekend.
“He will have surgery to his hamstring over the coming days, and is expected to return to action early in the New Year. Everyone at Fulham wishes Rodrigo all the very best for his surgery and during his rehabilitation.”
Muniz is now expected to miss at least eight further games ahead of the New Year, although it could take more time for the 24-year-old to regain full fitness. The recurrence of a previous issue, plus the fact it has required surgery, will both be of major concern to Fulham, who after a poor start to the season could find themselves in a relegation scrap.
Fulham in early relegation trouble
Fulham are level on 11 points with Leeds after a terrible run of five defeats in six, which has put head coach Marco Silva’s future in doubt. TalkSPORT reported earlier this week that Craven Cottage chiefs are weighing up whether to switch things up in the dugout amid growing frustration in London.
Silva’s current contract expires at the end of this season and despite attempts from club chiefs, he has seemingly been unwilling to discuss fresh terms and as things stand, he will leave for free come June. The Portuguese coach has also been vocally critical of his side’s lack of summer business, with only one first-team signing made in the form of Brazilian winger Kevin.
"It's not an ideal scenario. I didn't expect us to be this passive,” he said back in August. “I knew what I wanted and the plan was there but it hasn't happened. Right now we need to reinforce. In some positions we are very short. Did I expect it? Of course not, but the market is the market."
With Muniz out for an extended period, Silva now has just one senior striker to pick from going into a busy festive schedule. Thirty-four-year-old Raul Jimenez has just one Premier League goal so far this season and only just returned from a groin injury himself, while underneath him in the pecking order is teenager Jonah Kusi-Asare.