Leeds United are just over a week away from their Premier League season opener against Everton at Elland Road, but Daniel Farke is not happy with the state of his squad. The Whites’ boss has stressed the importance of adding attacking reinforcements before the end of the window.
Farke has made it clear that without new signings in the final third, Leeds cannot hope to compete in the Premier League in the upcoming season. The Leeds boss is desperate to add quality, creativity and goals to his attack before the transfer window closes on 1st September.
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Signing a number 9 of required quality is the biggest priority for Leeds, but the club are keen to bring in a versatile attacking midfielder and a winger this summer. The Whites also need a new full-back to replace Isaac Schmidt, who wants to join Werder Bremen on loan before the end of the window.
Leeds tried and failed to sign Igor Paixao, and have expressed an interest in Liverpool’s 19-year-old Scottish winger, Ben Doak. However, the club are also considering signing a winger who Marcelo Bielsa previously wanted at Elland Road.
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Leeds United have their eyes on Juventus winger Nico Gonzalez
Since losing out on Paixao, Leeds have been looking at alternatives, as Farke still wants to add one more winger to his squad before the end of the window.
Doak has been assessed and, according to the Yorkshire Evening Post, the Whites are also considering a move for Juventus winger Nico Gonzalez.
Juventus signed the Argentinian winger on loan from Fiorentina last year, before it turned into a permanent deal for a fee of £25m this summer.
He scored five goals and registered four assists in all competitions last season, and Juventus are prepared to sell the winger despite just signing him on a permanent deal.
Leeds have their eyes on him, but they are yet to make a concrete approach for a player who was on Leeds’ radar around five years back.
Marcelo Bielsa was keen to sign his compatriot when the latter was at Stuttgart in 2020, but the Whites eventually snapped up Raphinha on deadline day.
Leeds are again considering getting their hands on Gonzalez more than five years later, and it could be another late-window move.
Juventus are likely to demand the £25m they paid for him to ensure they do not suffer a loss on their books.
Manor Solomon has not been replaced
Farke has reiterated that Leeds are weaker in the final third compared to last season, as the Whites are yet to replace Manor Solomon.
There are still suggestions that a late move could see the Israeli winger return to Elland Road before the end of the window, as he appears to be out of Thomas Frank’s plans at Tottenham.
Regardless of what happens with Solomon, Farke needs a winger, and the club’s interest in Doak and Gonzalez suggests that there will be movement in that regard in the coming days.
They would have loved to sign Paixao, but the Brazilian winger chose Marseille and Champions League football over Leeds.
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