Exclusive: Mateo Joseph Pushes for Leeds Exit with Real Betis, Celta Vigo and Championship Clubs Keen

Celta Vigo and Real Betis want to sign want-away Leeds United striker Mateo Joseph, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.

And our sources have learnt that two Championship clubs are also interesting in signing the 21-year-old hitman.

Southampton, relegated from the Premier League last season, and Wrexham – playing in the second tier for the first time – have expressed a desire to sign the player.

Former Spain Under-21 international Joseph is under contract with the Yorkshire club until June 2028.

But a lack of first-team opportunities has led the former Espanyol hitman to tell Whites boss Daniel Farke that he wants to leave.

Celta and Betis have both expressed an interest in signing Joseph on a permanent deal, but a potential loan move has not been ruled out.

Wrexham would certainly be a shock move for the Spaniard, but the Hollwood-backed club are yet to make a huge splash in the transfer market, and want to bring in a marquee name to introduce them into Championship life. 

Joseph demands a weekly wage of £15,000 and it is understood Leeds would want that covered if a loan move does turn out to be the preferred option.

Southampton would be more than happy to cover the player's wages, although they're not looking a permanent move. 

A fee of £10million has been muted for the striker who originally signed for Leeds on a three-year deal believed to be £750,000 in January 2022.

Two years later he extended his contract with the club for an additional three years, but last season he was primarily used as a substitute.

Joseph played 39 times for Leeds last term as they claimed a memorable promotion back to the Premier League as Championship winners, however he was primarily used as an impact sub late in most games. Prefered striker Joel Piroe was given more than double the amount of minutes as Joseph last term. 

LACK OF STARTS

He only started 11 games and mustered three goals in a frustrating season which saw him sit behind striker Piroe (19 goals) and wingers Daniel James (12 goals) and Manor Solomon (10 goals) as Farke’s preferred frontline.

Leeds are currently in Germany on their pre-season tour and Farke revealed: "It's not a situation I like. I've spoken honestly to him [Mateo] and strongly recommended him to be professional, but he said he's not in a mental state to do this."

"What should I do? I can't call the police to drag him here on the training pitch. It was his decision [not to come]."

“With him the situation is quite clear. We really value and rate him - otherwise we wouldn't have played him, especially in the beginning of the last successful campaign ahead of a golden boot winner in Joel Piroe and an experienced striker like Patrick Bamford."

"Nevertheless, he came to me and asked for a new challenge and would like to move. He has also hinted that he prefers a move to Spain due to his Spanish roots. That was his call."