Not many Leeds United fans would have predicted that the club would enter the final week before the Premier League opener against Everton, and still be without a new striker.
Already, Daniel Farke has shaken up his options in the final third. Mateo Joseph has forced his way out of Leeds on loan to Mallorca, Joe Gelhardt is back at Hull and Patrick Bamford has no future at Elland Road.
The one-time England man was told there is no space for him moving forward. Bamford has since been playing in the club’s U21 side, and Bamford has even been spotted doing a half-marathon recently.
But Leeds remain in the hunt for a new striker before the beginning of the Premier League season, with Leeds still confident in doing a deal for Rodrigo Muniz. But there is another name gathering momentum.
Daniel Farke Leeds United manager.
Photo By Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile via Getty Images
Leeds send scouts to watch striker at Everton’s new home
Last week, it was Inter Milan’s Mehdi Taremi that was supposedly ‘close’ to joining Leeds. But now, the dial is moving towards Roma’s Artem Dovbyk. The Ukraine ace could leave after just one season with Roma.
Interest from Leeds in Dovbyk is nothing new. Earlier this summer, it was claimed that Leeds and West Ham had opened talks for Dovbyk. It comes after winning the La Liga golden boot back in 2023-24.
Reports have differed over a price tag, but Gazzetta Dello Sport report on Monday that Leeds sent scouts to watch Dovbyk during Roma’s pre-season friendly against Everton, which ended in a 1-0 win for Roma.
AS Roma striker Artem Dovbyk in Serie A action
Photo by Fabio Rossi/AS Roma via Getty Images
How much Leeds will have to pay to sign Artem Dovbyk…
Dovbyk’s golden boot win earned him a move worth just over £33m to Roma in the summer of 2024. The striker scored another 17 goals for Roma last season, but that has not been enough to convince the club.
MORE LEEDS UNITED STORIES
Roma are happy to keep him. But, GDS say that Roma are willing to cash in if an offer of £32m arrives for the big striker, which is well within Leeds’ budget. Leeds bid £32m for Rodrigo Muniz earlier this summer.
Dovbyk played 80 minutes for Roma under the watchful eye of Leeds scouts against Leeds’ first Premier League opponents of 2025-26, while Matias Soule scored the only goal of the game for the Serie A giants.