There has been a real focus from Leeds United to strengthen in attack this summer. The Whites have signed three new forwards, with Noah Okafor the only one they paid for, joining from Milan for £18m. Lukas Nmecha was one of the free signings, and he scored on his debut against Everton from the spot.
The other centre-forward who didn’t cost a penny was Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
The England international switched to Elland Road after his Everton contract expired. However, his debut for the club, a Carabao Cup tie defeat away to Sheffield Wednesday, saw him miss a couple of chances and a penalty in the shootout.
Calvert-Lewin-2
Daniel Farke seems to think there is still work to be done in attack, with Leeds looking at signing another forward.
Leeds' new attacking targets
Even though they scored more goals than any side in the Championship last season, the Whites have still focused on bolstering their attack.
One name who has cropped up recently is Nottingham Forest winger Jota Silva, with the forward emerging as a target for Leeds.
However, it seems that they could jump ahead of Premier League rivals in the race for another striker. According to a report from TEAMtalk, Farke’s side have ‘swooped in’ to sign Christantus Uche from Spanish side Getafe.
Christantus-uche-getafe-leeds
He looked destined to join Wolverhampton Wanderers this summer, but an issue agreeing on personal terms has opened the door for Leeds to hijack the move.
West Ham United, Crystal Palace and Bournemouth, as well as Serie A giants Milan, have also shown interest in the £17.5m-rated star, but Leeds are now 'pushing hard' to get a deal done.
Why Uche would be a good signing
With Leeds looking to add further depth to their attack, it is no surprise that they have rejoined the race to sign Uche.
The Nigeria international has a unique profile, standing at 6 foot 3, and can play as a striker and a number 10.
Uche
Described as a “defender’s nightmare” by football scout Antonio Mango, the 22-year-old certainly showed his threat in the final third last season. In 33 games for Getafe, he bagged four goals and assisted a further six. Not mindblowing numbers by any stretch of the imagination but he caught the eye.
The 2025/26 campaign has begun superbly for Uche. Getafe’s number 10 is already on the board this term and grabbed an assist, with both contributions coming in their season opener against Celta Vigo. The La Liga side won 2-0, with Uche playing a key role in both goals.
The same cannot be said for Calvert-Lewin, who struggled on his debut for the Whites.
His final season as an Everton player saw the 28-year-old find the back of the net just three times in 26 appearances.
Everton's Dominic Calvert-Lewin celebrates their third goal, an own goal scored by Tottenham Hotspur's Archie Gray
Unfortunately, that tough form continued in his first game as a Leeds player. Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Lee Sobot gave him a 5/10 post-match rating and described his night as a “debut to forget”, with WhoScored explaining his missed chances had an expected goals tally of 2.14 xG.
It is easy to see how Uche could be an upgrade on Calvert-Lewin already in Farke’s squad. He has been quick out of the blocks this season, whereas the new Leeds star struggled on debut. On top of that, Getafe’s number 10 outscored him last term.
The stats from the 2024/25 season back up the sentiment. For example, the Nigerian star averaged 0.36 goals and assists and 2.82 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes. In comparison, Leeds’ new number nine averaged 0.22 goals and assists and 1.46 shot-creating actions each game.
Uche & Calvert-Lewin 24/25 key stats
Stat (per 90)
Goals and assists
Goals per shot on target
Key passes
Shot-creating actions
Ball recoveries
Stats from FBref
With his effectiveness in front of goal, the unique profile and the versatility that he offers, it is easy to see how Uche would be an upgrade on Calvert-Lewin.
Ultimately, Leeds need goals to stay in the Premier League, and will be relying on both to find the back of the net often.
Getafe's Christantus Uche and Getafe's Omar Alderete in action with FC Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski
Getafe's Christantus Uche and Getafe's Omar Alderete in action with FC Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski
Hijacking this deal for the cheap price of £17.5m would surely be a smart move for the Yorkshire side as they look to beat the drop this season.