That there was no new attacker at Leeds United during the January transfer window, at least, probably ensures that Daniel Farke’s Premier League-seeking side will go big in the forward department in the summer.
Leeds had a bid rejected by Southampton for Cameron Archer, Adam Armstrong ended up at West Brom, and once Atlanta United made it clear that they were prepared to make former Middlesbrough striker Emmanuel Latte Lath the MLS’s all-time record signing, any hopes that he would end up at Elland Road quickly dissipated.
Of course, had Latte Lath moved in July rather than January, Leeds United may have had more of a chance.
Presuming, of course, that top-flight football will be returning to West Yorkshire for the 2025/26 campaign.
As for Dor Turgeman, another of the talented forwards linked with The Whites either side of the festive period, his best hope of remaining on Leeds’ radar is by ensuring that his flying form at the beginning of the New Year is a case of ‘start as you mean to go on’.
Leeds United-linked Dor Turgeman in sensational form
The goals dried up for Turgeman in the build up to Christmas. After reports emerged claiming that Leeds United were tracking the £6 million-rated Israel international, Turgeman found himself gasping in the midst of a six-game dry spell.
That thirst would soon be quenched, however, with a veritable flood of goals in early-2025.
The Maccabi Tel Aviv talisman finished January with five goals in five Israeli Premier League matches. Thus, ensuring that a club previously coached by now-Ferencvaros boss Robbie Keane would go into February only two points adrift of Hapoel Be’er Sheva at the summit.
Taking his tally to 14 goals for 2024/25, Turgeman’s reward is the club’s Player of the Month award for January. Though he, and Maccabi Tel Aviv, have much bigger fish to fry.
Turgeman would bring ‘great skill’, speed and efficiency to Elland Road
Daniel Farke may claim to be happy with his striking options but that could simply be a manager looking to keep the peace after an underwhelming January.
Farke confirmed that Patrick Bamford is not ready to return from an injury which has kept him out since New Years’ Day. And while Leeds rejected Real Betis’ bid for Mateo Joseph, a poor showing in the FA Cup defeat to Millwall means the young Spaniard is stuck on three goals after 32 games.
As such, Joel Piroe is the only one of Leeds’ current centre-forwards who can be relied upon to both start regularly and score frequently.
But, to borrow the description provided by Israeli publication Sport5, Dor Turgeman is ‘a tremendous goalscorer in his own right’. Maccabi Tel Aviv coach Zarko Lazetic highlights his fierce pressing from the front too.
Turgeman, he says, is a ‘beast’ of a centre-forward, though there is a craftiness to go with those claws.
“Along with taking advantage of opportunities and goals that come as a result of high pressing, he finishes chances with great skill,” Sport5 add, Turgeman’s first nine goals of the season coming from just 15 shots. “When he does start, he is one of the best on the pitch.”
Should Turgeman follow in Manor Solomon’s West Yorkshire footsteps, Dan James might soon find himself having to defend the title of Leeds’ fastest player.
“Turgeman’s most notable advantage is his speed,” Sport5 explain. “Turgeman is a fast and dangerous player.
“Turgeman is a really good player.”
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