Leeds United are in quite desperate need of a new striker, or two, or maybe even three, with the likes of Mateo Joseph and Patrick Bamford now poised to leave Elland Road.
Reports in the last week regarding Mateo Joseph’s Leeds United future have really ramped up. It is understood that Joseph has handed in a transfer request at Leeds United, after falling out of favour and becoming unhappy with his lack of game time at the club under Daniel Farke.
Earlier in the summer, it was reported that Leeds United had agreed to sell Joseph for a £9.5m fee, with the La Liga side Real Betis understood to have been showing a strong interest.
Their interest in the Spanish under-21 striker seems to have faded. However, Joseph is being linked with a move to Birmingham City who are spending big this summer, having already spent £10m on a new striker.
Whether they remain interested in a move for Joseph remains to be seen. Meanwhile, Patrick Bamford has been told he can leave Leeds United this summer.
He and Joseph are in similar positions, struggling for game time, and playing as understudy to Joel Piroe and likely Lukas Nmecha too.
But should Joseph and Bamford leave, then Farke may need to bring in at least two more new strikers. One such player could be Callum Wilson, after his release at Newcastle United.
Leeds United transfer target Callum Wilson agrees next move
Leeds United have been linked with a move for Wilson. Earlier in the summer it was claimed that Wilson was hoping to land a deal with Leeds United on a pay-as-you-play basis. The move got a few Leeds fans online quite excited with Wilson boasting undeniable Premier League quality and pedigree, and a pay-as-you-play deal would protect the club from Wilson’s patchy injury record.
However, earlier this week it was revealed that Wilson was in talks to join West Ham United on a free transfer, and now TalkSPORT are reporting that Wilson has agreed terms with West Ham over a summer move to East London.
TalkSPORT add that ‘Leeds United hold an interest’ in Wilson but that West Ham are now leading the chase to sign the 33-year-old. Interestingly, the same report adds that West Ham ‘are believed to have responded with an offer to the striker of a minimal salary with bonuses for goals and appearances’, perhaps similar to the pay-as-you-play deal that Leeds United could offer the former England striker.
One striker target still available for Leeds United, Farke could pull the trigger
Leeds United play Everton on the opening day of the season on August the 18th. There are still three weeks left for Leeds to bolster their side, close to three weeks, and the 49ers may be keen for Farke to have at least one more new striker in place before then, though options are dwindling fast.
Leeds United have stocked up well but have left their striker department lacking and Farke may be forced to pull the trigger on someone who remains available and who could still be a good option for the Whites. Such an option could be Jamie Vardy.
Leeds United were linked with a move for Vardy earlier in the summer after the 38-year-old striker was released by Leicester City and he remains without a club. The former England man is seemingly weighing up his options with talks of an MLS move, and rumours that Vardy could join Rangers or Celtic too.
However, Vardy seems keen to remain in the Premier League and for Leeds United he could be a good backup option, similar to Wilson, although Vardy’s injury record is much better too.
And it can’t be denied that Vardy still has a lot to offer, having scored nine goals in 35 games for a terrible Leicester City side last season.
Should Joseph or Bamford leave in the very near future, then snapping up Vardy on a one-year contract could be a good option for Leeds United going into next season.
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