Of all the transfer rumours to emerge surrounding Leeds United in recent months, suggestions that Rasmus Hojlund could swap Manchester United for Elland Road was about the oddest.
There are a million and one reasons why this just isn’t going to happen.
Rasmus Hojlund’s wages, for one. The size of the fee Manchester United would demand for a striker who set them back in excess of £60 million less than two years ago. The sheer lunacy of any suggestion that the Red Devils would entertain an offer from their hated cross-Pennine rivals for a player they saw fit to hand the number nine jersey to in pre-season.
Hojlund to Leeds United, then, is one in which a firm line can be drawn straight through with the most indelible of markers, and TeamTALK have now confirmed it.
Wilson Isidor and Josh Sargent, though? That seems a whole lot more realistic.
Leeds United eye Sunderland’s Wilson Isidor and Norwich City’s Josh Sargent
According to TEAMtalk, Leeds have shortlisted two of the Championship’s finest centre-forwards as the table-toppers look to finally replace the long-serving, high-earning, injury-stricken Patrick Bamford this summer.
Leeds certainly know all about Isidor. Ethan Ampadu especially.
The Elland Road skipper is not often made a fool of. But as Isidor opened the scoring during Monday’s crunch clash in West Yorkshire, the Sunderland hitman ragdolled Ampadu with ease en route to converting via the inside of Illan Meslier’s far post.
That was his 12th Championship goal of the season. Most of them pretty spectacular, from Isidor’s 80-yard dash-and-dink against Hull to that pair of outrageous volleys against Oxford and Coventry City.
Isidor impressed not only with his brilliantly-taken goal at Elland Road, but also the manner in which he led the line with ferocity and finesse.
By Farke’s own admission, his combination of speed, skill and strength made Isidor a ‘difficult’ opponent as Leeds relied upon an unexpected Pascal Struijk brace to re-claim top spot in the table.
According to reports, Sunderland paid around £5 million to sign the Frenchman permanently following a fine start to his loan spell from Zenit St Petersburg. The Black Cats would demand a considerable profit from a Leeds side who should have the added benefit of Premier League riches come the off-season.
Daniel Farke is a big fan of Norwich ace Sargent
TEAMtalk add that another gifted centre-tier marskman to keep an eye on is that of Norwich City’s trusty number nine. Leeds reportedly discussed bringing in the £20 million-rated Josh Sargent during the January window.
Farke is a big fan.
The Leeds United boss labelled Sargent a ‘top striker’ last month, before Dan James and Manor Solomon saw off Johannes Hoff Thorup’s Canaries in a comfortable 2-0 win.
With 25 goals in 43 starts since the beginning of last season, USA international Sargent averages better than a goal-every-other-game at Championship level too.
Whether he or Isidor could make the step up to the Premier League is anyone’s guess – Sargent netted only two top-flight goals for Norwich in 2021/22 – but chances to silence their doubters would not be in short supply at a Leeds outfit brimming with creative options in the final third.
TEAMtalk add that Cameron Archer remains on Leeds’ wishlist and wants a move to Elland Road despite Southampton turning down an offer in the winter.
It’s described that the biggest hurdle could be the fee Southampton want for the striker.
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