Leeds United’s players and Daniel Farke’s staff are busy preparing for tonight’s return to the Premier League against Everton, but Adam Underwood and his transfer team are closing in on a signing.
Leeds are back in the Premier League as they begin their campaign to stop the trend of sides being relegated in their first season after promotion. Leeds welcome Everton to Elland Road on Monday.
But Underwood and his team, including the likes of Robbie Evans and Morrie Eisenberg, are closing in on a ninth summer signing. Leeds fans were made to wait three weeks after Lucas Perri for a new arrival.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin was announced last week, and now, a few days later, Leeds are closing in on their ninth summer addition in the form of AC Milan’s Noah Okafor. Below is why Leeds have signed Okafor.
Noah Okafor playing for AC Milan.
Photo by Tim Clayton/Getty Images
The two reasons that convinced Leeds to sign Noah Okafor
According to Fabrizio Romano, Leeds have agreed a £17.25m deal to sign Okafor. Daniel Farke is said to have pushed hard for a deal to sign the Switzerland attacker. Jesse Marsch also wanted Okafor at Leeds.
Daniel Farke, Leeds United manager.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Reports say a deal for Okafor could be wrapped up ‘later today’. Now, Gazzetta Dello Sport identify the two reasons that have convinced Leeds to sign Okafor from Milan, one of which was against the Whites.
Okafor left Isaac Schmidt dumbfounded in Dublin, getting the better of his Switzerland teammate on several occasions. That is said to have convinced Farke, as did Okafor’s brace in a 4-2 win over Liverpool.
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Okafor will be Leeds United’s second-most-expensive signing
It is believed that an overall fee will go just above £17m, with Leeds set to pay an initial fee for the former Salzburg ace of just £13m. A bargain, for a player that had a hand in 57 goals during 110 Salzburg games.
The competition at Milan and even during a loan this year at Napoli have seen Okafor lose his way a bit, but his form in pre-season has caught the eye and Milan were even reconsidering their stance on Okafor.
Name Club Fee
Anton Stach Hoffenheim £19.9m
Noah Okafor* Milan £17.25m
Lucas Perri Lyon £15.6m
Sean Longstaff Newcastle £15m
Jaka Bijol Udinese £15m
Gabriel Gudmundsson Lille £10m
Sebastiaan Bornauw Wolfsburg £5m
Lukas Nmecha Wolfsburg Free
Dominic Calvert-Lewin Everton Free
Total spent: £97.75m
But, Leeds have met Milan’s asking price and finally bring in a left-sided attacker after Manor Solomon returned to Tottenham. Only Anton Stach has cost more than Okafor so far, among the nine arrivals.