Leeds United are being linked with a surprise move to sign a striker in the January transfer window for a bargain fee of £4m, but he is hardly a name that many of a Leeds persuasion will recognise.
Leeds currently boast four strikers but it is clear that Daniel Farke has no idea which of the four is his best striker at the moment. Farke has chopped and changed between Joel Piroe and Mateo Joseph this term.
Then, on Saturday, he chose to bring on Patrick Bamford before bringing on Mateo Joseph at Blackburn. That then would suggest he prefers Bamford currently to Joseph, despite Joseph’s form with Spain U21’s.
It came after another disappointing display from Piroe. Although he remains Leeds’ top scorer this term with seven goals, the Dutchman is often guilty of going missing in matches and failing to have an impact.
New Leeds target scored 11 goals under Robbie Keane last season
Leeds then, could enter the January window for a new striker. One player being linked with Leeds is Dor Turgeman, with Manor Solomon’s Israel teammate starring in his home country and in the Europa League.
Leeds are said to have made an approach for Turgeman, who is rated at £4.1m. Turgeman is open to a move having said in September that he would be ready to consider a transfer at some point in the future.
Despite his tender age of 21, Turgeman has scored 21 goals already in his 81 senior appearances for Tel Aviv. Last season, he scored just over half of those with a tally of 11, and Robbie Keane as his manager.
Keane took charge of Tel Aviv for 23-24, shortly after working as a coach at Leeds during Sam Allardyce’s four-game reign before relegation. Turgeman netted 11 goals, despite only starting 19 of 49 games.
Leeds United’s striker department needs updating soon
Whether it is in January, or next summer, some changes will be required. Joe Gelhardt wants to leave in January given his lack of game time and the youngster is expected to move on, at least on loan initially.
Graham Smyth expects Patrick Bamford to leave next summer and given his game time, that is a real possibility. He is one of the club’s earners, and Carlton Palmer has urged Leeds to sell Bamford in January.
Piroe and Joseph are likely to stay even if promoted, but The Whites need a striker that is going to score regularly in the Premier League, even if they fail to go up. Whether Turgeman is that, remains to be seen.
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