Leeds United’s hunt for a striker is ongoing, and so far a lot of the options being mentioned alongside a move to Elland Road aren’t all that inspiring.
Leeds United go into the new season with just Joel Piroe and Lukas Nmecha as their only real first-team options up front. Daniel Farke still has youngster Harry Gray to call upon and Patrick Bamford, though Bamford has been told he can leave Leeds United, having not featured at all in pre-season.
Already this summer there have been a number of strikers linked with a move to Leeds United. But as the September 1st deadline rapidly approaches, it looks as though Farke may be forced to scour the free agent market for a quick find, whilst spending big on one other, marquee striker.
Leeds United remain interested in signing Rodrigo Muniz from Fulham in what could be a club record transfer at Elland Road, whilst Roma’s Artem Dovbyk continues to be linked with Leeds United as well.
In the meantime, Leeds United could sign Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin of Everton.
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Rio Ferdinand critical of Leeds United transfer target Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Leeds United have been linked with Calvert-Lewin throughout the summer, and ahead of the new season starting this weekend, reports regarding Calvert-Lewin’s next move have really ramped up. It is understood that Leeds have held talks to sign the former Everton striker, with Calvert-Lewin having sacked his agent as he searches for a new club.
Another team who have been mentioned alongside Calvert-Lewin for some time now is Manchester United. But former Man Utd and Leeds defender Rio Ferdinand is not impressed by the possibility of the 28-year-old Calvert-Lewin arriving at Old Trafford this summer. Speaking on his show on YouTube, Rio Ferdinand presents, Ferdinand ridiculed the idea of Calvert-Lewin joining Manchester United.
He said: “Dominic Calvert-Lewin, what are you chatting about? Dominic Calvert-Lewin cannot stay fit. Why are you bringing him into this club? This club is built on the academy. You have Chido Obi just sitting there. Play him if you’re going to think about five or six games. Not somebody who is older and cannot stay fit.”
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Rio Ferdinand has a point, but who else can Leeds United sign right now?
At one point, Calvert-Lewin was one of the most prolific strikers in the Premier League, but like Ferdinand says, he simply can’t stay fit. He’s missed 83 games in the last four seasons, and Calvert-Lewin was also on a staggering amount of money at Everton, meaning it would be an expensive gamble for whoever signed him this summer.
But there are other options for Leeds United. Speaking to Leeds United News recently, transfer expert Graeme Bailey named the four strikers on Leeds United’s radar right now. They include Muniz, Inter Milan’s Mehdi Taremi, Norwich City’s Josh Sargent, and Calvert-Lewin.
Season Days missed through injury Games missed through injury
24/25 110 days 15
23/24 51 days 6
22/23 223 days 29
21/22 145 days 33
Bailey said: “Rodrigo Muniz remains Leeds’ number one choice centre-forward, whilst Mehdi Taremi and Josh Sargent are also options being discussed internally. However, Calvert-Lewin is also someone they remain hugely keen on. He is the right sort of profile.”
It has also been revealed recently that Michail Antonio has visited Leeds United’s training ground, though it’s understood that was purely to promote his latest sports supplement business.
That said, Antonio confirmed he is in talks with a number of clubs, having been released by West Ham this summer. Who Leeds United eventually bring in in attack remains to be seen, but it needs to happen sooner rather than later.
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Rio Ferdinand, presenter for TNT Sports.
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