Leeds United receive bad news as £12m striker agrees to join Bundesliga club instead

Add as preferred source on Google

Leeds United are likely to be in the market for a new striker but one of the options on the Elland Road shortlist, according to reports, has agreed to join a Bundesliga club instead.

Going into the window, Leeds were reportedly eyeing four new positions. A centre-back, a full-back, a new midfielder and a striker. With Joe Gelhardt going to Hull and Patrick Bamford injured, it makes sense.

Plenty of strikers have been linked with Leeds over the course of the last few weeks. Robbie Keane helped Dor Turgeman progress and the Israel striker has been linked, as has Aston Villa forward Louie Barry.

Another one linked with Leeds is Hoffenheim striker Mergim Berisha. The two-time Germany international moved to Hoffenheim in the summer of 2023 for a fee of £12m, but his move has completely flopped.

• READ MORE: Burnley want to offload player that has been linked with Leeds United move

Leeds United blow as Mergim Berisha agrees Bundesliga move

Berisha earned his move to Hoffenheim 18 months ago due to his form with Augsburg, scoring nine goals and laying on four assists in 26 games. Now, he is going back to Augsburg in their fight to avoid the drop.

Augsburg currently sit 12th in an 18-team division, five points clear off 15th place which sees the third-worst Bundesliga side face the third-placed side from Bundesliga 2 in a play-off for a place in the top tier.

German magazine Kicker report that Berisha has agreed terms to return to Augsburg where he is well-liked, choosing Augsberg over Union Berlin, Mainz and Werder Bremen to go back to his old outfit.

The report says Hoffenheim and Augsburg have agreed a loan move until the end of the season with an obligation that is claimed as being a single-digit million amount of Euros, a fee below an £8m figure.

Mergim Berisha almost ended up at Leeds in the summer of 2022

Berisha is a character well-known to some at Elland Road. A former teammate of Max Wober, Brenden Aaronson and loanee Rasmus Kristensen at Salzburg – and worked under Jesse Marsch with the Austrians.

Marsch actually tried to sign him at Leeds in the summer of 2022, with Turkish outlet Yeni Safak claiming Leeds made a £1.7m bid to sign him from Fenerbahce. Instead, he joined Augsburg for a fee of £3.4m.

Now, Leeds have missed out on Berisha two and a half years later after their initial approach. It remains to be seen if Leeds will delve into the market to try and sign another striker, or hope Bamford gets fit again.