Leeds United fans were desperate for Adam Underwood and the transfer team to sign a third striker this summer, and one option linked with a move to Leeds is about to sign a massive contract.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha have both been signed on free transfers, with Nmecha doing well in the 0-0 draw against Newcastle. Joel Piroe has started the other two Premier League games so far.
Piroe has looked like a rabbit in the headlights during his top-tier outings and was poor in the Carabao Cup defeat to Sheffield Wednesday. It saw Daniel Farke pleaded for more attacking signings last weekend.
Nothing has materialised, though, despite the number of players linked with a move to Leeds. One of those options was Aleksandar Mitrovic, who is being pushed out the door at Saudi giants Al Hilal.
Aleksandar Mitrovic set to team up with Rodrigo Moreno
At one point in the summer, Leeds were deemed Mitrovic’s ‘most likely destination’. But a return to Europe has not materialised for the Serbian, ahead of what is a World Cup year, and the window is shut.
Paul Robinson even suggested Leeds should sign Mitrovic, while on punditry duty in Dublin for the Milan friendly. Now, Mitrovic has found a new club, according to Foot Mercato reporter Santi Aouna last night.
Aouna reported that Mitrovic is set to join the Qatari side Al-Rayyan, where he will earn a huge £143,000 a week. Interestingly, Mitrovic will now form a partnership up top with Leeds icon Rodrigo Moreno.
Aouna posted on X: “Alexsandar Mitrovic leaves Al-Hilal with immediate effect as his contract will be terminated on mutual consent. The Serbian will sign to Al-Rayyan and will earn around $10m.”
Aleksandar Mitrovic might have been expensive, but perfect
Underwood and Farke have tried to make Leeds more physical and while Nmecha and Calvert-Lewin do that. But, Mitrovic adds that physicality as well as aerial prowess. A player who winds defenders up.
His stats in the Premier League are excellent, as is his form in the Middle East – though it is hard to know whether that form in Saudi Arabia matches up to the Premier League. Mitrovic’s style would be perfect.
| Name | Clubs | Games | Minutes | Goals | Assists | Minutes per G+A |
| Aleksandar Mitrovic | Al Hilal Newcastle Anderlecht Fulham Partizan Telephoto | 515 | 38794 | 265 | 62 | 118.6 |
But it seems Mitrovic’s wages may have deterred him from a return to Europe, and certainly, he would have been Leeds’ highest-paid player by miles. He’s set for another lucrative move, moving to Qatar.
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