Leeds are working on signing ‘better player than Josh Sargent’ – O’Rourke
Leeds United are set to aim higher than Norwich City star Josh Sargent in their pursuit of a new striker this summer, sources have told Football Insider.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, senior correspondent Pete O’Rourke revealed that the club have reservations about the 25-year-old’s ability to perform consistently in the Premier League.
Daniel Farke has been a long-term admirer of Sargent since his time working with him at Norwich, but Leeds are now believed to be setting their sights on more ambitious targets.
Farke’s side are currently top of the Championship, with a seven-point buffer between them and the playoff places, and are on course to achieve Premier League promotion.
As a result, plans are being put in place behind the scenes to add further quality to their side, with a new striker identified as a key area for improvement.
Former Leeds goalkeeper Paul Robinson told Football Insider that Leeds want to sign Tammy Abraham, whose Roma contract is set to expire at the end of the season.
This comes as Patrick Bamford is likely to leave Leeds, while there have been question marks about Joel Piroe’s long-term role in the side.
Leeds United prioritising move to sign a new striker
Sargent has enjoyed a strong season in the Championship so far, having scored 11 goals and provided five assists in 20 appearances.
However, his previous spell in the Premier League with Norwich has led to concerns that he may simply be a top Championship player rather than being capable of making the step up.
Instead, Leeds are planning to land a big-name addition to Farke’s team to help bridge the ever-growing gap between the second tier and the Premier League.
That gap has been a concern for Leeds, with last year’s promoted trio of Leicester, Ipswich and Southampton now odds-on to drop back down – something Farke’s side are determined to avoid.
The addition of a new striker is seen as vital part of that step up, and they are keen to sign somebody with experience in the top tier.
Daniel Farke planning to sign Manor Solomon from Tottenham
Alongside improving their squad ahead of a return to the Premier League, Leeds are keen to keep their current best players at the club.
The likes of Ethan Ampadu and Joe Rodon have previously been linked with moves to Premier League sides, but have established themselves as key options at Elland Road.
Meanwhile, Manor Solomon has become a key part of Farke’s team, and Leeds want to sign him permanently from Tottenham following his loan spell.
However, Everton are preparing to rival their interest and hijack the deal as part of plans to reinvent their attacking options under the guidance of David Moyes.
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