Leeds United are being linked with a plethora of different attacking options as the January window gets underway, and a teammate of one player linked with Leeds has said his situation is bad.
Since Daniel Farke’s switch to 3-5-2, Leeds’ lack of depth at centre-back and up front has been made clear. Certainly, up top, with Joel Piroe being touted with the exit door before the end of the window.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha have both been excellent since arriving on free transfers but it is too soon to be able to rely on the duo without cover. Leeds need a striker who can start up front.
Which striker would you like at Leeds the most? 🤑
Especially, with West Ham already signing Pablo and Taty Castellanos, and Adama Traore set to follow. Paul Merson may feel West Ham are down, but the Hammers doing business should tempt Leeds.
A handful of strikers have been linked with Leeds. Castellanos was one option for the Whites, while Artem Dovbyk is an option after links in the summer. Another is Man United’s £36.5m signing Joshua Zirkzee.
Matheus Cunha discusses Joshua Zirkzee’s Man United situation
Before the start of the January window, reports from Italy said that Leeds and West Ham had made an approach to sign Zirkzee from Man United. The story came from Italy because Roma are leading the way.
Zirkzee came off the bench at Elland Road on Sunday and got the assist for Matheus Cunha. After the match, Cunha – who was linked with Leeds before joining Wolves – admitted Zirkzee’s situation is bad.
“Josh is a pleasure to play with, he has a lot of quality. His situation is not good but he has the quality to change it. He needs to understand this and we want to count on him. We are here to push him.
“After the goal last week and the assist today he will have more confidence to be with us and do his role,” Cunha explained when asked about Zirkzee, as quoted by BBC Sport’s coverage of Sunday’s 1-1 draw.
Would you take Joshua Zirkzee at Leeds? ⭐
Even if he's currently at Man United?
Joshua Zirkzee is closing in on a move to Roma
Despite Leeds reportedly making a move for the former Bologna and Bayern Munich star, Roma look to be closing in on a move. Manchester United had requested a fee of £43m for the Netherlands attacker.
But according to reports, Roma have lodged a loan bid which will see them pay a tenth of that fee up front and then a potential obligatory fee of around £30m. Zirkzee will surely prefer a move to Roma.
Certainly, over Leeds. West Ham won’t be interested anymore after signing Pablo and Castellanos, and if Roma fail to agree a fee, then Leeds could move. But Man United’s bench was threadbare on Sunday.
Ruben Amorim’s sacking may even see Zirkzee opt to stay and try to impress whoever replaces the Portuguese gaffer in the dugout. As things stand, that will be Darren Fletcher on an interim basis.
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