Leeds United remain in the hunt for more attacking options after Daniel Farke publicly said he would still like one or two reinforcements in the final third, even after the addition of Noah Okafor.
Okafor’s arrival at Leeds for an £18m fee from AC Milan takes spending just an inch under £100m, with £98.5m spent so far. The Switzerland star was the club’s ninth signing, and second-most-expensive deal.
But Leeds are set to add to that. James Justin is closing in on a move with the England international set to cost The Whites an initial £8m fee, rising to a possible £10m package. Yet, Leeds still want more additions.
Farke is keen on signing another wide man as Largie Ramazani looks set to go on loan to Valencia. That is despite the current complement of wingers being five, and Leeds’ boasting three strikers at the moment.
Daniel Farke during Leeds United v Everton - Premier League
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Daniel Farke prefers another player to Strasbourg’s Dilane Bakwa
Strasbourg’s Dilane Bakwa is the one who has been linked most frequently in the last few days, but Leeds Live say that actually, Farke would ‘prefer’ Adam Underwood to sign another attacker in the coming days.
Dilane Bakwa dribbles the ball during a game for Strasbourg.
Photo by Sathire Kelpa/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
They say that Farke would prefer an attacker that can also play up front, like Okafor, such as Juventus ace Nico Gonzalez. Leeds have been linked with Gonzalez, and Gonzalez has submitted a transfer request.
Rated at £26m, Juventus want to sell Gonzalez to fund a move for Jadon Sancho. Leeds Live believe Farke wants a winger who can offer versatility, and the ‘excellent’ Gonzalez is able to play as a 10 or up front.
What Graeme Bailey has said about Leeds eyeing Nico Gonzalez
Juventus' Nico Gonzalez celebrates
Photo by Daniele Badolato – Juventus FC/Juventus FC via Getty Images
Gonzalez is a top player. One that has north of 40 caps for Argentina, and has attracted interest from Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid this summer. He was the main man for Stuttgart and Fiorentina, prior.
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Juventus has not worked as much as he would have liked despite it only being his first season playing for Weston McKennie’s side. Graeme Bailey has told LeedsUnited.News that Gonzalez is better than Okafor.
Name Clubs Age Games Minutes Goals Assists Minutes per G+A
Dilane Bakwa StrasbourgBordeaux 22 121 7943 16 29 176.5
Nico Gonzalez JuventusFiorentinaStuttgartArgentinos Jrs 27 290 19469 77 35 173.8
“Juventus are desperately trying to move him on. They are trying to make room for Jadon Sancho and raise cash to sign him. He’s a very good player, better than Okafor but he will be much harder to get.”
Whether Leeds will intensify their interest in the final week of the window remains to be seen. But it does feel like Bakwa will go elsewhere, and Leeds could target Gonzalez or a player in Gonzalez’s mould.