Leeds United are still in the market for one or two new attackers this month after the arrival of Noah Okafor.
This week brought the second attacking addition of the month in the form of AC Milan wide man Noah Okafor on a four-year deal.
A £17.25million outlay indicates that the Swiss 25-year-old is coming to Elland Road to start after an impressive pre-season run at the Rossoneri, but there’s more work to come in attack for Daniel Farke despite Okafor and Dominic Calvert-Lewin joining.
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“There’s always room for more quality. Wingers who can work hard and are good against the ball, disciplined, wingers who are quick and good one vs one, wingers who can play like a 10. This (latter option) would be a good solution for us,” Farke said, per Beren Cross.
Farke’s demeanour suggested he was relieved to have more bodies in the door through Calvert-Lewin and Okafor, but there is clearly a desire to add at least one more attacker.
Here, we explore three attacking options that fit Farke’s ideal profile before the window shuts in eight days’ time…
Dilane Bakwa – Strasbourg
Essentially what Farke has described is someone to fulfil the ‘Emi Buendia’ role in his side as the Argentine did at Norwich City – adding Buendia himself to the list of injury risks already present in United’s attack would be a step too far though.
Standing out on the list of ideal right-wingers that have creativity in central spaces would be Strasbourg’s Dilane Bakwa.
(REUTERS/Christian Hartmann)
Linked with Elland Road weeks ago, the Frenchman has shown real intelligence and takes on plenty of creative responsibility under Liam Rosenior, notching six goals and nine assists last season while he’s already provided one assist in his opening Ligue 1 game this season.
Bakwa would provide a similar 1v1 threat that Okafor promises, but importantly for Leeds, delivers a lot of crosses into the box, which is vital when you’ve got Calvert-Lewin rising high in the penalty area.
On top of being a guaranteed starter right now, another upside to Bakwa is that he’s only 22 (23 on Tuesday), and has serious potential to keep improving.
Facundo Buonanotte – Brighton
The next name on the list is Argentine talent Facundo Buonanotte, currently at Brighton and in dire need of an escape on loan (or permanently).
Already supposedly on Leeds’ radar after recent links, the 20-year-old also occupied similar areas to Bakwa during his season-long loan at Leicester City last season.
(Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers)
Leeds need a pass-first style of winger in their side after adding the direct threat of Okafor on the left, and Buonanotte represents another viable solution.
Scoring five and assisting two in a hapless Leicester side last season, the Argentine isn’t afraid of letting fly from distance and would add goals to Leeds’ attack as well as creativity.
Edon Zhegrova – Lille
A more ambitious name and someone you could definitely categorise in the “stretch target” brand of player is Lille’s Edon Zhegrova.
(REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol)
Having spent the second half of last season out injured, he’s another that represents a risk in terms of fitness, but if he had stayed fit for the full campaign, there’s no way on earth he’d be a plausible suggestion for a newly promoted side.
Another silky and confident dribbler, Zhegrova carries a serious threat with the ball at his feet, but is another high-volume crosser from open play and from set-pieces.
As we’ve seen from Leeds’ investment into complete giants, someone to take Anton Stach off of corner duty would be ideal, and Zhegrova would be that man.
In the final year of his Lille contract and refusing to discuss terms over a renewal, he could be gettable for a decent sum if Leeds are feeling ambitious.