Leeds United are going to be focusing on attackers in the final month of the window, and looking to their Premier League counterparts Brighton might be worth a shout.
After investment into the spine of the side earlier in the window with centre-backs, central midfielders and then a goalkeeper signed, the onus is on the 49ers to address Daniel Farke’s attack.
Attempts have already been made for particular targets, and pressure is mounting for Leeds to build a quality, varied attacking cohort.
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What sort of attacking midfielder do Leeds United need to sign?
Farke’s four transfer windows prior to this summer all saw him interested in potentially adding an attacking midfielder to the squad, coming up short each time as targets came and went.
(Action Images/Ed Sykes)
Brenden Aaronson’s nine goals last season helped ease the need on such an arrival as he chipped in with important goals by crashing the box to support Joel Piroe, but his two assists cast a spotlight on the lack of overall spark in that position.
A creative force is needed for Leeds to drag them through Premier League results next season, someone capable of winning a match on their own, whether that’s from one of the winger positions, the striker, or indeed a new attacking midfielder that can either score from nothing, or tee up a goal from nothing.
Should Leeds United look to sign Julio Enciso from Brighton as attacking midfield option?
Leeds’ recruitment so far has been measured with a view to finding players of good value respective to their ability, and a key avenue into finding those deals is players with dwindling contracts – Sebastiaan Bornauw, Gabriel Gudmundsson and Sean Longstaff all entered the final 12 months of their deals this summer.
Casting an eye over Premier League options that fall into that category, one that stands out as both attainable and of real quality is Brighton’s Julio Enciso, off the back of his half-season loan spell at Ipswich Town.
(Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff)
A contract impasse and a lack of playing time at the AMEX sees him likely to leave, and would slot into Leeds’ attack quite nicely.
“He has the potential to be world class,” ESPN’s Roberto Rojas told the BBC in January 2024. “It seems early to say but the way he’s developing his play then he certainly has the capability to be one of the best very soon.
“It would be great for him to stay where he is [at Brighton] but the sad reality is in this day and age, you can’t stop these players from being sold for ridiculous money when teams can afford to spend it.”
Enciso’s carrying and willingness to shoot on sight would add a lot to Leeds’ current group of attackers, plus versatility to play across the attacking three behind the striker, makes him a viable option.
How much the Seagulls would command for him is hard to say, given reported interest from Inter Milan, Sporting CP and others, but the club would not only get a player to enhance the attack now, but with the potential to be worth a lot more if he hits the ground running.
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