Leeds United deemed £45m striker’s most-likely destination, 68 goals in 79 games at current club

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When Leeds United struck their seventh signing of the summer window with the arrival of Lucas Perri, fans were confident the club would get all the business they wanted to do, done.

However, it has now been three weeks since Leeds brought in a new signing. Perri joined from Lyon for £15.6m on July 26th, and Leeds have been unable to make any new signings since ahead of Everton.

It is now five days until Leeds host Everton, who themselves have just signed Jack Grealish. The Whites are still in the market for a new striker, a left-sided winger, an attacking midfielder and cover at full-back.

Yet, nothing seems imminent and it is expected that Leeds take on Everton with the squad they currently have. But, Daniel Farke’s Leeds have just been named as one big-name striker’s ‘most-likely destination’.

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Leeds likeliest to sign goal machine and it isn’t Rodrigo Muniz

Leeds’ priority remains Rodrigo Muniz, but Atalanta are pushing to sign Muniz with the striker preferring move to the Italian side. Leeds have also been linked with Mehdi Taremi, Artem Dovbyk and other strikers.

Leeds have also been linked with Aleksandar Mitrovic. The big Serbian striker is currently in Saudi Arabia with Al Hilal, but left in limbo after Simone Inzaghi’s side bought striker Darwin Nunez from Liverpool.

Mitrovic has not only fallen down the pecking order, but Al Hilal’s £45m signing could be ostracised due to the number of foreign players allowed. Globo Esporte say Leeds is Mitrovic’s ‘most-likely destination’.

The situation regarding Aleksandar Mitrovic’s Al Hilal exit

Plenty has to happen before Mitrovic can leave Al Hilal, where he has scored a stunning 68 goals in 79 games. Mitrovic penned a three-year deal in 2023 when he joined the Middle East club from Fulham.

Mitrovic was due to earn €75m (£65m) in wages over the course of the three years, €25m (£21.6m) a year. For Mitrovic to leave, GE say that needs to be paid off but the belief is that Al Hilal are willing to do this.

Whether that means he will become a free agent, is unclear. It is likely Al Hilal would still want to receive a fee for the former Newcastle and Fulham man, which is likely to be expensive given he cost Al Hilal £45m.

Mitrovic’s club career in numbers:

Then, there is the factor of his wages. Earning north of £400,000 a week, Mitrovic would have to take a massive pay cut to join Leeds, potentially 75% of what he currently earns. But if Leeds can, they should.

Mitrovic’s 38 goals in 129 Premier League games, a goal every 3-4 games, is the kind of striker that Leeds need to sign. He fits the criteria: physically fit, out of contract in a year, and an experienced international.