Leeds United are looking to bring in forwards in the coming weeks as Daniel Farke has made it clear that the squad can’t be termed Premier League-ready if they do not add players for their attacking third before the transfer window closes on September 1st.
The Whites have signed seven new players since earning promotion to the Premier League at the end of last season, but most of their early recruitment this summer focused on deepening their defensive and midfield resources. They are now trying to add to their forward line in the final few weeks of the transfer window.
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They are pushing hard to sign Leicester City attacking midfielder Bilal El Khannouss, who also has suitors in Aston Villa and Tottenham. He has also attracted interest from Saudi Arabia this summer.
Leeds are also looking at striker options and while Fulham’s Rodrigo Muniz is their top target, the club are also considering a few other number 9s, including Roma’s Artem Dovbyk.
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Club identify an upper limit price for Leeds United target Artem Dovbyk
Roma are open to selling Artem Dovbyk this summer after signing Evan Ferguson on loan from Brighton, and want a minimum fee of £25m from his sale.
Leeds United and West Ham are among the clubs who have made enquiries for him, but Villarreal have made their first concrete move for him.
It emerged on Tuesday night that the Spanish club have failed with a bid for him, and they are considering going back for him.
However, according to Spanish sports daily AS, Villarreal have no plans to meet Roma’s asking price for the Ukrainian striker.
It has been claimed that the Spanish club are not prepared to offer anything more than around £17.4m for Dovbyk in the ongoing transfer window.
That figure is their upper limit, and Villarreal are prepared to look at other targets if Roma continue to insist on getting a high price for Dovbyk.
Villarreal are showing Leeds the path
Dovbyk scored 17 goals in all competitions for Roma last season, and the Serie A giants’ asking price could be deemed acceptable, given the money strikers are going for this summer.
However, Roma want to sell him, and Villarreal’s approach to the negotiations shows that Leeds do not need to cave in and pay the price the Italians want.
If the Whites make a move for Dovbyk, they can acquire him for a lower fee, as Roma have shown their hand by making it clear that they want to sell him.
Leeds could offer more money than Villarreal for Dovbyk and meet Roma midway, but they do not need to pay the £25m to £30m the Giallorossi are demanding for the striker.
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