Southampton fans are all saying the same thing as Leeds United eye Cameron Archer deal

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Leeds United are pursuing a deal to sign Southampton striker Cameron Archer before Monday’s deadline and Saints fans have responded to the news on social media.

Leeds are in the market for a new striker after sanctioning Joe Gelhardt’s loan move to Hull City, only for Patrick Bamford to suffer a setback in his recovery from a hamstring issue. Leeds are left with two strikers.

Joel Piroe has had a hand in 15 goals this season but is guilty of going missing in matches, while Mateo Joseph has managed just two goals. Leeds need another option up top and it could be Cameron Archer.

Graeme Bailey has told LeedsUnited.News that Leeds are confident of a deal for Archer, which would see him join on loan with an obligation to buy. That obligation is likely to be active in the event of promotion.

• READ MORE: Who is Cameron Archer? A profile on Leeds United’s newest target

Southampton fans react as Leeds eye Cameron Archer deal

Archer is said to be keen on a deal if he is guaranteed starts. Whether Leeds can agree a deal with his club remains to be seen, especially given Southampton are likely to go down and will want to keep him.

Indeed, the Saints are resigned to relegation this season. Archer’s 18 goals in 40 Championship games means Southampton may want to keep him but as things stand, Leeds are confident of doing a deal.

That has angered Southampton fans, who cannot understand why the club are open to selling Archer.

A £15m buy from Sheffield United, Archer has appeared on the Leeds radar before. The Whites tried to sign him before Sheffield United struck a deal with Aston Villa – Archer choosing Premier League football.

One Saints fan described it as a “tragedy” that Archer could leave, while another was so angered by the news that he said he was “ashamed to be a supporter of this club”. Clearly, fans don’t want Archer to go.

One fan asked “are we a serious club?”, questioning why so many of Southampton’s summer additions could leave months after joining. Another posted “I hate this club so much”, as Archer closes in on an exit.

How Cameron Archer compares to Leeds’ current strikers…

Archer has attempted to make it as a Premier League striker in the last couple of seasons. But at Sheffield United, he scored four goals in 32 games and at Southampton, he has two goals in 21 top-tier outings.

But comparing his Championship form to Piroe, Joseph and Bamford, it is clear that Archer is perhaps the most-prolific of the three. 18 goals and seven assists in 40 games on loan at Boro and Preston is superb.

Leeds would be landing themselves a real coup if they can convince Archer to drop into England’s second tier again. Whether or not a deal happens before Monday remains to be seen as Leeds eye additions.