Leeds United are ready to rival West Ham in the race to sign Club America’s defensive midfielder Pedro Aquino.
According to a report from Peruvian news outlet Libero, Pedro Aquino has emerged as a target for several Premier League clubs after his impressive performances in Mexico. Leeds United, West Ham and Brentford are some of the teams tracking the defensive midfielder, although it might prove to be a challenge for them to negotiate a deal with Club America.
A native of Lima, Aquino is one of the most talked-about players in Peruvian football at the moment, following his success in Mexico. The 26-year-old had initially moved to North America back in 2017 when he joined Monterrey for just under €1 million. However, he was immediately sent out on loan to Lobos on a season-long loan deal.
The midfielder made his breakthrough in Mexican football with his new team during the 2017/18 campaign before returning to Monterrey. But he was once again shipped out by the Liga MX giants, this time on a permanent €1.5 million deal to Club Leon.
Aquino hasn’t had to look back since, as he enjoyed immense success at Leon before earning a €3.5 million move to Club America at the start of 2021. Since then, the Peruvian has established himself as one of the finest midfielders in the Mexican top-flight and has also won over 30 caps for his country.
Aquino’s success hasn’t gone unnoticed either, with Leeds United likely monitoring him as a potential alternative to top target Nahitan Nandez.
The Whites, after all, are desperate for a new midfielder that can offer competition for Adam Forshaw and Mateusz Klich while serving as a backup for Kalvin Phillips, who has had injury issues this term, while he also continues to attract interest from Liverpool and the two Manchester clubs.
West Ham are facing a similar situation, as there are concerns over the club’s depth in the midfield unit, with Mark Noble set to retire at the end of the season and summer signing Alex Kral failing to make much of an impact.
Pedro Aquino might not be one of the most gifted players in the world. But his gritty style of play, combined with aggression and work ethic, could make him a useful addition to either of these Premier League clubs in their quest to add reinforcements in the midfield department this January.
But the Peruvian international is likely to cost a fortune, as Club America are aware of the player’s interest from foreign clubs. They intend to make a sizable profit on the midfielder after spending just €3.5 million on him about a year ago.