Leeds United signed two strikers in Lukas Nmecha and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, on free transfers. Both players arrived on free transfers, and they are both known for being injury-prone. Daniel Farke wanted to add one more striker to the mix, but that never happened.
The Whites have scored just one goal in three Premier League games, and that too was a penalty, which was converted by Nmecha in their win over Everton. Leeds have looked short of ideas and goal-scoring nous in the final third at the start of the season.
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With the transfer window closed, Leeds cannot do much about adding more quality to their forward line, but the club are aware of the problem, and it could be addressed when the window opens again in January.
The recruitment team are working behind the scenes to identify potential targets should Leeds decide to dip into their funds and look to bring in a striker, and Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta is on their radar.
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Leeds identify Jean-Philippe Mateta as a priority target
Mateta scored 14 Premier League goals last season, but Palace managed to hold on to him despite interest from clubs in the Premier League and Europe.
However, clubs will be in the market for strikers, and the Frenchman’s future will come under the scanner during the winter transfer window.
According to CaughtOffSide, Leeds are among the Premier League clubs who have identified the Palace striker as one of their top targets for January.
If the team are in trouble in January, it seems more than likely that Leeds will look to strengthen, and their forward line looks short of quality.
However, if they move for Mateta, they will face competition from Aston Villa and Newcastle United in the January transfer window.
The Frenchman, 28, is a Premier League-proven striker, and he will be in major demand for teams looking to add goals to their squad in the middle of the season.
Palace will demand a top fee
Crystal Palace are aware of the growing demand for Mateta and have taken note of the increasing list of clubs that are interested in the Frenchman.
He will have 18 months left on his contract in the winter window, and could be Palace’s last opportunity to get a good fee for him.
Palace would prefer to hold on to him, but if they decide to sell him, the fee would have to touch the £40m mark for them to consider letting him go in the middle of the season.
It remains to be seen whether Leeds will be prepared to splash big money on a striker in January.
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