According to TuttoMercatoWeb, Leeds United and West Ham United are among the clubs looking at a move to sign Venezia and Finland striker Joel Pohjanpalo after a wonderful 2022-23 campaign – in which the Fin scored 19 goals.
Pohjanpalo, 28, has become a bit of a journeyman in terms of European football throughout his career. Already, he has played for nine different European sides – in Germany, Turkey Finland and the latest of which, Italy with Venezia.
He joined the second-tier Italian side last summer and has since starred. Last season, he played 38 times – scoring 19 goals. Pohjanpalo, a player with 63 caps for his country, has two years remaining on his contract with Venezia.
But with his current side failing to gain promotion, one would expect that Pohjanpalo – a National teammate of Glen Kamara – would likely be open to offers. He is clearly, far too good for the second tier of Italian football, at Venezia.
The latest report claims that Leeds and West Ham are both interested in signing Pohjanpalo, who is more than able to play out wide or as a 10, too. Farke’s old side Norwich, and Blackburn, as well as Cagliari, are also looking at him.
Leeds and West Ham among clubs looking to sign Venezia’s Pohjanpalo
Leeds have options in attack. But there are issues. Patrick Bamford and Georginio Rutter are out injured, while Mateo Joseph has an ankle issue. Joe Gelhardt was only used for the last 10 minutes against Cardiff on Sunday.
Clearly, not favoured. Farke preferred to use Willy Gnonto down the middle and it meant that Leeds could not swing the ball into the box, instead having to be patient and find little gaps. Pohjanpalo would completely change that.
He would certainly be an improvement on Bamford and may allow Farke to use Rutter as a second striker, or a wide option. Something which he presented in his initial interviews. But Pohjanpalo has plenty of interest in his services.
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