After signing striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the summer of 2025, very few Leeds United supporters would have expected him to be the club’s starting number nine over 14 months later.

However, the Englishman’s quality in the Premier League has led the Whites to new heights in recent weeks after helping the club fend off an immediate return to the Championship last term.

In his 40 appearances in England’s top flight, the 29-year-old has netted 17 goals - the most of any player in the senior ranks, which has made him one of Daniel Farke’s most crucial operators.

It’s safe to say his free transfer to Elland Road is one of the club’s best pieces of business in recent years, but the same can’t be said about one player who arrived for huge money.

Why Leeds' deal to sign Rodrigo was a complete disaster

During the club’s previous attempt to secure success in the Premier League, Leeds forked out a reported £30m to secure the signature of striker Rodrigo Moreno.

The Spaniard, who spent most of his career in his homeland, arrived from LaLiga side Valencia in the summer of 2020 with the hopes of providing the goods within attacking areas.

However, the 35-year-old ultimately struggled to deliver on a consistent basis, as seen by his tally of just 28 goals in his 99 outings across all competitions.

Rodrigo could only reach double figures once during his three years in Yorkshire, with such a tally way below the levels expected from such a big-money addition.

In the summer of 2023, his unsuccessful time in Yorkshire came to an abrupt end, as the hierarchy sanctioned a measly £3m deal to join Qatari outfit Al-Rayyan.

As a result, the Whites lost around £27m plus wages on their investment, which no doubt contributed to the club suffering relegation to the Championship in 2022/23.

Why Leeds flop is becoming the next Rodrigo

Given the topsy-turvy nature of the club’s previous attacking additions, a lot of focus is put on new arrivals to try and produce the goods at Elland Road.

The impressive performances of Calvert-Lewin have increased the pressure placed on the new arrivals who try and battle with the Englishman for a starting role in attacking areas.

However, the struggles of Rodrigo have seen supporters act with caution around any new player who makes their own move to improve Farke’s senior ranks.

Harry Wilson was seen as a player who could massively take the Whites’ forward line to the next level after registering 17 combined goals and assists in the Premier League last term.

He subsequently arrived on a free transfer from Fulham during the recent summer window, emulating Calvert-Lewin in arriving from a fellow top-flight club at the end of his contract.

As a result, the supporters would have been hoping that the Welshman could emulate the centre-forward, but it’s safe to say he’s started his time in Yorkshire just like Rodrigo.

The 29-year-old has only started one of the club’s first five top-flight games, before missing Sunday’s clash with Crystal Palace due to a minor injury issue.

He’s started to emulate the Spaniard in being a high-profile addition in Yorkshire, but has ultimately been unable to deliver the goods when called upon in attacking areas.

During his first four games in Farke’s squad, the Welsh international has only been able to register a single shot, with his effort against Nottingham Forest failing to trouble Matz Sels.

The aforementioned tally ranks him in the bottom 4% of all attackers in the Premier League, subsequently showcasing his struggles after his recent summer move.

He’s also completed just 25% of the crosses he’s attempted into the opposition box this term, which has seen him be unable to provide Calvert-Lewin with the chances he needed for success.

Whilst it’s still early days into his career at Elland Road, Wilson has undoubtedly failed to live up to expectations after his recent move from Fulham this summer.

He has plenty of time to turn his fortunes around, but it’s safe to say that the Welsh international has been unable to deliver the immediate impact many expected.

Should he fail to turn his fortunes around in the coming months, there’s no denying he could suffer the same fate as Rodrigo in going down as a flop in Yorkshire.