Leeds United have not scored a goal from open play in their opening four Premier League games, and the defeat at Fulham on Saturday has further exposed the squad’s failings, especially the lack of a proven striker. Dan James’ injury has further exacerbated the club’s problems in the final third.
Daniel Farke has been honest about the lack of quality in his frontline. He more or less admitted that his team would have to depend on their spirit this season, as they may lack the quality to survive in the Premier League.
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The Leeds boss will now look to keep his team in the running for survival in the next few months before getting a chance to add some quality to his frontline in the January transfer window.
The Whites are expected to bring in a versatile attacking midfielder, but the Leeds manager is almost certain to demand a striker. These are five striker names the club could look at in the next couple of months.
Can you name these 10 former Leeds United strikers?
Five strikers Leeds United could target in the winter window
Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest)
The former Leeds United striker has turned into a real force in the Premier League and has already scored twice in four games in the Premier League this season at Nottingham Forest. However, he will enter the final 18 months of his contract in January, and he may not be a striker of Ange Postecoglou’s liking. The new Forest boss may demand a new forward in the winter window, and Leeds could have a chance to bring Wood back to Elland Road. He is the kind of physical striker that will work in Farke’s system.
Beto (Everton)
Beto was linked with a move to Leeds in the summer, but he stayed put at Everton after David Moyes failed to bring in a replacement. The Toffees boss could be open to letting him go again in the winter window, and he is a striker on Leeds’ radar. He is not as prolific as Wood, but he can provide a physical outlet to the team in the front line that the Whites do not have at the moment.
Josh Sargent (Norwich City)
Sargent has scored five times in the opening five Championship games and was heavily linked with a move to Leeds all summer. Farke remains a keen admirer of the Norwich City forward, and the club have been tipped to sign him in January. If the American keeps scoring, it would not be a major surprise if the Leeds manager pushes to take him to Elland Road in the middle of the season.
Alexander Sorloth (Atletico Madrid)
Sorloth had a woeful time in the Premier League previously, scoring just once in 20 appearances for Crystal Palace. However, since leaving England, he has been prolific for RB Leipzig, Real Sociedad and Villarreal. He has netted 25 times in 56 appearances for Atletico Madrid since joining Diego Simeone’s side last summer. However, there are suggestions that the Spanish giants are prepared to move him on soon.
Jean-Philippe Mateta
Leeds are among the clubs that are monitoring the Crystal Palace striker with a view to potentially signing him in the winter window. He has scored 30 goals in the previous two Premier League seasons, and will have 18 months left on his contract in January. However, he could be out of Leeds’ reach as the striker is keen to join a club with European football if he leaves Palace in the winter window.
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