Leeds United have planned to add to their attack in the coming weeks. There is just over a week till the Premier League kicks off.
Daniel Farke has complained about the squad needing reinforcements ahead of the Everton game. Around five players missed the last friendly against Villarreal. There are doubts that some players could be fit in time for the Premier League opener.
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With Mateo Joseph gone, and Patrick Bamford set to follow, the club could need more than one attacking addition. Joseph is in Spain to complete his loan deal to Mallorca. Daniel Farke made the decision to remove both players from his plans next season. He had a private conversation with Bamford over his involvement. But with Joseph, the youngster’s reluctance to show up for pre-season forced the Leeds boss’ hands.
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Graham Smyth explains why Leeds United move for Mitrovic is unlikely
Credit: Imago
Leeds have been contacted by Aleksandar Mitrovic’s representatives over a move. But there is no evidence to show that talks have gone any further than that. With the Whites keen on adding a new striker, they could very well turn to that option.
Graham Smyth believes that the striker’s huge wages could be a stumbling block. Mitrovic reportedly earns over £400,000-a-week. Which means unless the Serbian takes a wage cut, Leeds could be paying him around £20million a year.
“Mitrovic is an interesting one because he meets the profile in terms of size and physicality, not so much in age, but the big sticking point with Mitrovic before anything can happen for Leeds United would be wages. When you’re on hundreds of thousands of pounds a week, plural, you’re going to have to accept a whacking great wage cut to come to Leeds because that’s not in their gift to give that kind of money.”
Striker’s quality is also questionable
Despite Mitrovic netting over 60 league goals in the last few seasons, a lot of people forget about his reputation prior to the last Premier League campaign with Fulham. He was a bully in the Championship, but struggled to score in the top flight until he had an explosion in the 2022/23 season. Smyth questions the 30-year old’s current state in 2025:
“He was up until the last Premier League season, he was viewed as an inbetweener. A player too good for the Championship, not quite good enough for the Premier League, but I think he put that to bed and then went and took the mercenary route, taking the Middle Eastern money. I struggle to see that one happening unless something miraculous can happen in terms of wages.”
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