The search for a new striker continues and it sees Leeds United linked with a new name every few days. Plenty of forwards have been touted with a move to Leeds and now, another.
The fact of the matter is, that Leeds cannot trust Joel Piroe to score the goals that will fire Leeds to safety in the Premier League next season. Even in the Championship, there have been plenty of Piroe doubters.
Nine games with a goal before his four-goal haul against Stoke shows that Piroe can go missing. Leeds cannot afford to carry passengers in the Premier League, and Piroe’s never played in the Premier League.
Just recently, AZ Alkmaar’s Troy Parrott has been linked while Lecce’s Nikola Krstovic is also said to be a target. Promise David scored a brace as USG lifted the Belgian title and now, Rennes’ Arnaud Kalimuendo.
Rennes need to sell as Leeds eye Arnaud Kalimuendo, again
Having signed plenty of players including Glen Kamara from Leeds, Rennes were expected to go and have a big season during 2024-25 – and push for Europe. But, the Ligue 1 side finished in a disappointing 12th.
It means they have overspent and need to sell – and one asset that could depart is Kalimuendo. A shining light in a poor Rennes side, 23-year-old Kalimuendo scored 18 goals and laid on four assists in 34 games.
Of course, that has not gone by without being noticed. Jeunes Footeux say Leeds, Newcastle and Bayer Leverkusen are all interested in the £25m-rated striker, a name that may ring a bell for Leeds supporters.
Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce are also keen, with the report claiming Rennes and Kalimuendo both expect the 33-time France U21 striker to be on the move in the coming weeks and months, away from Rennes.
Jesse Marsch made £17m bid to sign Arnaud Kalimuendo
Eagle-eyed Leeds fans will remember that Kalimuendo is a big target for Leeds in the summer of 2022. During the Jesse Marsch era, his only summer window in charge, Leeds made a £17m bid for Kalimuendo.
Leeds targeted players with no Premier League experience that summer and it resulted in relegation. The approach seems different this time around, but there are still likely to be a couple of overseas recruits.
Whether Leeds do choose to target Kalimuendo remains to be seen, but he is now one of a number of strikers being touted with a big-money move to Leeds – interestingly, most seem to be rated at £25m.
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