The January transfer window is fast approaching, and Daniel Farke will be hoping that Leeds United are able to bring in some attacking reinforcements, with a £40m-rated striker watched by scouts.
Farke is coming under intense pressure after four defeats in five Premier League games. That is despite Farke requesting more attacking options towards the end of the summer, but they never arrived.
The next available opportunity for Leeds to sign some new players is January, even if Robbie Evans says Leeds have maxed out their PSR position. Leeds may have to sell some players before they can spend.
Despite that, Leeds scouts have been deployed to watch potential targets ahead of the winter window and one attacker watched by Elland Road’s talent spotters has already scored 19 goals this season.
Franculino in action for Midtjylland.
Photo by BO AMSTRUP/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images
Leeds have sent scouts to watch FC Midtjylland’s Franculino
Over in Denmark, there is a growing talent in Midtjylland’s side. Highly rated Franculino has shone with the Danish team, who currently sit at the top of the Danish Superliga with 32 points from 15 matches.
Just 21, Guinea-Bissau international Franculino has scored 52 goals and laid on 13 assists in 99 games for Midtjylland since his arrival in 2023. But it is this season where he has taken his form to a new level.
LeedsUnited.News understands Leeds have sent scouts to watch Franculino, who is also a target for West Ham. It comes after Franculino has netted an astounding 19 goals in 26 games, laying on three assists.
Franculino’s incredible form since Midtjylland move:
Season Games Minutes Goals Assists Mins per G+A
2023-24 33 1839 17 4 87.6
2024-25 41 2358 16 6 107.2
2025-26 26 1826 19 3 83.0
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LeedsUnited.News insider Graeme Bailey reports: “He’s got a lot of teams looking at him. West Ham like him a lot, they looked at him in the summer. Midtjylland have put a £40m price tag on him.
“Teams will possibly try to soften that by putting in lesser offers. He’s got an awful lot of interest; I’m told over 20 clubs across Europe like him. Leeds have looked at him, he’s on their radar, they’ve watched him.”
Franculino celebrates a Midtjylland goal.
Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP via Getty Images
Franculino would be a club-record signing for Leeds at £40m
It is a huge fee but it is understandable why Midtjylland would request such a figure. His form is frightening, albeit in Denmark. However, he does have three goals in three Europa League starts so far.
That includes a goal in a 3-1 win over Celtic, a week ago. Given he has scored at such a regular rate, even as a teenager, it proves this is a player who is destined for stardom in one of Europe’s top-five leagues.
While a £40m move will see Leeds go way beyond the PSR limit, it would also see Franculino become a club-record signing for Leeds. The current record is held by Georginio Rutter, who joined Leeds for £35m.
Whether Franculino, despite his form, is a player Leeds should be targeting when an instant impact is required is another question. Leeds need an attacking player who can make an immediate difference.