Former Leeds United defender Aidy White believes that the reported £10million offered for Mateo Joseph was a lot for an 'unproven' forward. Joseph was subject to interest from Real Betis in the January transfer window.

In fact, Betis were said to have made a £10m bid for the 21-year-old. However, Leeds, who tried to bring in a striker themselves with Adam Armstrong and Cameron Archer targeted, decided to reject the proposal for Joseph.

As Leeds didn't sign a replacement, White believes that turning down Betis' offer for Joseph was the correct decision. Asked on BBC Radio Leeds after the 2-0 defeat against Millwall on Saturday if he would have taken the £10m for Joseph, White replied: "It's a lot of money for an unproven striker.

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"I know he is a Spanish Under-21 international and I think it comes down to can you get somebody in to replace him in time. If that was in the pipeline, we had a striker ready to go then maybe things might have been different.

"But late on in the window, if [Joel] Piroe gets injured and we do need somebody in the 9, and [Patrick] Bamford is injured, it's a risk isn't it, so maybe not."

Joseph has struggled for form in a Leeds shirt this season. He has been handed a chance to impress under Daniel Farke in 2024/25 after his game time was limited last term. But the Spaniard has scored just three goals and added three assists in 32 appearances across all competitions.

He started Leeds' defeat against Millwall and came under criticism for his performance. Joseph cut a frustrated figure after the match, too, and usually happens when a striker misses a glorious chance, but Joseph did not get a shot off all game. His in-game statistics make for grim reading.

He completed just nine of his 17 passes, ending the match with a 52.9 percent pass completion ratio - the lowest out of the whole Leeds team, even substitutes. Junior Firpo only played 22 minutes but had eight more touches than Joseph's 26. It was a disappointing afternoon at the office for Joseph.

Speaking after the game, Farke recognised Joseph's struggles against Millwall. "It was a frustrating game for a striker because Millwall and the way they play, the physicality they have in the last row and the area to protect the last row meant it was always to be a difficult game for a striker today," he said.

"For a striker, you are even more reliant on what your teammates create. If they produce chance after chance, it is a bit easier to shine."