Leeds United fans will love what German legend Joachim Low has previously said about Davie Selke

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Leeds United and Daniel Farke quite simply have to sign a striker this summer, with Premier League safety the aim in 2025/26.

Every top flight side needs a player capable of scoring goals regularly, but Leeds United also need the right kind of focal point of the attack to alleviate pressure and get them up the pitch.

The Whites may need at least one striker, with Strasbourg looking at Mateo Joseph, although Bamford looks set to stay at Leeds and fight for his place.

Joel Piroe’s future looks more certain but as many as two No.9s could be signed this summer. With that, Leeds are said to be eyeing a move for Davie Selke of Hamburger SV.

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Joachim Low’s comments on Davie Selke will be of interest to Leeds supporters

Once one of the most promising young centre-forwards in German football, the towering 6’5″ striker has just scored 23 goals in 33 games for Hamburg in the 2. Bundesliga after signing a one-year contract last summer.

His goals helped the sleeping giant secure promotion to end an eight-year hiatus from the Bundesliga. However, the 30-year-old could leave the club now his contract has ended.

Unfortunately for Leeds, they aren’t alone in attempting to convince Selke to sign for them, with Premier League duo West Ham and Fulham also said to be keen.

However, RB Leipzig interest is said to be the most advanced and Selke could still extend his deal with Hamburg after promotion and the best year of his career.

Once upon a time, Selke was one of the most coveted young strikers when breaking through with Hamburg’s rivals, Werder Bremen. That then led to a switch to Leipzig before a move to Hertha Berlin.

With each, he was unable to hit the heights many had hoped of him. Neutrals believed he could be Germany’s main striker for years to come, but that never materialised.

According to German outlet Kicker in 2019, via Buli news, then Germany coach Joachim Low stated the following on Selke:

“Davie Selke is a great type of player with incredible commitment and speed. These are positive basic qualities. But he has to take a step forward in terms of his development.

“I would like to see such a player score 12-15 goals in a single season before he can do anything decisive for the German national team.”

Low was boss for 15 years and his comments are interesting looking back with hindsight. For example, the fact he is considered committed in and out of possession, while also having some pace despite his size, can be considered positives.

However, his development outside of that has been the biggest issue. Low’s wishes were never realised. That was after Selke scored nine and assisted three in 15 games for Germany’s U-21 team.

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Leeds may be put off by Davie Selke’s Bundesliga goalscoring record

Selke’s best seasons in the Bundesliga include scoring 10 goals for Hertha in 2017/18, but his next best tally is nine and then just six. It means he only came close to Low’s demand twice, and both were prior to his comments in 2019.

He has never been able to put it together at that level on a consistent basis, with purple patches of form. However, he does have the aerial ability to contest with just about any player in the world.

As a weapon off the bench, that could be utilised by Leeds or any other interested party. However, he cannot be considered as first-choice for the Whites.

Leeds need oven-ready players with proven quality to survive. Selke has shown inconsistent spells of being that but not often enough to be the only centre-forward acquired this summer.

His skill-set of being both powerful and quick is what most Leeds fans will be most interested to hear from Low, though.