Leeds United striker Rodrigo Moreno has backed summer signing Marc Roca to be a big hit for the club this season.
The midfielder arrived in a £10.8m move from Bayern Munich earlier this summer, with Leeds reshaping the squad this summer.
The Spaniard is looking to kickstart his career after a disappointing spell at Bayern Munich, who he had been with since an £8.1m move from Espanyol in 2020.
He struggled to establish himself with the German giants but is near guaranteed a starting place under Jesse Marsch this season, and Rodrigo is backing him to be a big hit.
“I feel he’s going to be important,” he told Marca.
“He has shown that in pre-season. The club has strengthened well. Last year, with the injuries, the squad was short and it was noticeable.
“We have to get back among the top clubs in the Premier League, which is difficult.”
Leeds will be hoping for an easier campaign in Marsch’s first season in charge after narrowly avoiding relegation last season.
They’ve since lost star men Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips but have spent £97m on new signings to strengthen the squad in the hope of a more stable campaign.
Rodrigo insists that the aims remain the same, though, staying in the Premier League once more.
“We are already looking forward to the tournament,” he added.
“Our objective is to save ourselves. Last season was complicated in many ways, with situations that didn’t help, but we managed to save ourselves.
“We have lost Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha, but we have also signed some good players.”
Those words are unlikely to go down well with Leeds fans, who will have loftier ambitions than simply avoiding relegation.
Indeed, given the money spent this summer and the signings brought into Elland Road, they are looking up the table rather than down it.
Many would love to see their side challenging for Europe in their third season back in the Premier League and might argue they have as much of a chance of doing so as the likes of West Ham or Aston Villa.
Rodrigo, though, says the club simply aren’t being that ambitious at this moment in time, because of the strength above them.
“It’s not the club’s goal this year. The short-term goal, despite the investments, is another one,” he concluded.
“The others have also strengthened a lot. The top 6/7 squads are very good, among the best in the world. The Premier League is making a difference with the rest.
“Not only those 6/7 but also Aston Villa, Leeds. West Ham… It’s difficult to get into the ‘Big 6’, but the important thing is to offer a better version than last season.”
