Daniel Farke may need to dip into the transfer market in January, to find the striker that can secure Leeds United's top-flight status
Richard Garnett Central Audience Sport Content Editor
15:16, 13 Nov 2025
Midtjylland's Franculino in action against Celtic in the Europa League
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Midtjylland's Franculino in action against Celtic in the Europa League(Image: Bo Amstrup/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
Leeds United have endured a tough few weeks as the realities of competing in the Premier League have begun to take hold. Just one win and four defeats in their last five matches have left Daniel Farke's side hovering above the relegation zone.
Three of the teams below the Whites have already sacked their managers and brought in replacements in an effort to escape the drop and the pressure is on Farke and his side to pull together a run of results that will keep them away from the trap door come May.
One of the biggest problems they have to contend with is a lack of goals thus far. Leeds have only scored 10 times in their first 11 matches. Joe Rodon, Lukas Nmecha and Noah Okafor are joint-top scorers with two apiece, while summer acquisition Dominic Calvert-Lewin has found the net just once.
If Leeds are to add to their firepower in January without unsettling their Profit & Sustainability Rules (PRS) obligations, then some players may have to leave in order to bring in new recruits.
One of the players the Whites are thought to be looking at plies his trade in the Danish Superliga. According to Leeds United News, the Whites have sent scouts to keep tabs on FC Midtjylland’s hot prospect, Franculino.
The 21-year-old has helped fire his club to the top of the table, thanks in no small part to the 19 goals he has already notched up this season. The Guinea-Bissau international joined Midtjylland from Benfica's youth academy in 2023 and has gone on to score 52 goals in 99 appearances. He's also weighed in with 13 assists.
He was also recently on target against Celtic in a statement 3-1 win against the Scottish Premier League champions in the Europa League.
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The report states that several teams have expressed interest in Franculino, including Leeds' Premier League rivals, West Ham United. As many as 20 clubs are claimed to be admirers, leading to Midtjylland putting a £40m transfer label on their star player.
A club-record transfer fee may be beyond the reach of Leeds for a January signing, but it is likely that interested clubs will seek to do a deal for less than that, especially given that his goals have all come in the modest level of the Danish Superliga.
Franculino is untested in the English game, so any mid-season transfer would require a gamble on behalf of the acquiring team, a risk Farke would need to weigh up carefully.
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