Leeds United are not taking no for an answer, it seems, in their attempts to lure Cameron Archer away from Premier League basement boys Southampton before the transfer window closes on Monday.
Southampton rejected Leeds’ initial loan offer for the striker earlier in the week.
But with Daniel Farke’s table-toppers hoping to add another option to their enviable attacking ranks – the window shuts at 11pm on Monday night – Cameron Archer remains very much a man in demand.
It is understood that Leeds United’s bid was a temporary one. A loan rather than a permanent offer. Yet, should Archer end up at Elland Road, there is a chance that he will stick around for the long haul.
Leeds could potentially twist Southampton’s arm by including a purchase clause in Archer’s contract. An obligation-to-buy arrangement, for instance, that would see the £15 million former Aston Villa starlet become a full-time member of Farke’s squad if promotion back to the Premier League can be achieved this season.
Leeds United still hope to sign Cameron Archer from Southampton
Reporter David Anderson does not provide any new information about the make-up of Leeds’ offer.
But he does say that the Yorkshire giants are still in hot pursuit of Archer, despite Southampton turning their noses up at the club’s opening bid.
It is easy to see why Leeds want Cameron Archer, and why Cameron Archer may want Leeds.
It’s no fun leading the line for a club circling the plughole and bound for relegation. Archer has scored only two goals in 21 Premier League games this season – he has found starts hard to come by under new boss Ivan Juric too – but a lack of end product owes much to the dearth of creativity in Southampton’s team.
It is certainly not difficult to imagine Archer finding the net with a far greater regularity in a Leeds side boasting such talents as Manor Solomon, Dan James and Brenden Aaronson.
Archer impressed in the Championship with Middlesbrough
An emphatic finisher with an eye for the spectacular, former England Under-21 international Archer scored 11 goals in 20 Championship appearances during a loan spell with Middlesbrough back in 2022/23.
By his own admission, Daniel Farke is ‘not a big fan of the January window’. Yet, Archer feels like the sort of low-risk addition which could yet be the difference between a league title and another run at the play-offs, particularly with Patrick Bamford’s injury issues ongoing and Joel Piroe inconsistent.
“I like to be open and honest and transparent, I’m not a big fan of the January window,” Farke said this week, speaking ahead of Leeds’ clash with Cardiff City on Saturday. “Players are overpriced. If you are top of the league, it’s difficult to improve.
“It could even be risky if you bring the wrong person in, I’ve spoken about this. We will stay awake until the last hour, but we will only do something when all boxes are ticked. We have a good group together.
“The right character, has to be affordable and available. If all three boxes are ticked then we will move, but nothing has happened. If we are without this signing, we go with what we’ve got.”
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