Leeds believe key duo not good enough for Premier League – sources
Leeds United are prioritising signing a striker this summer with their current options not Premier League-ready, sources have told Football Insider.
Daniel Farke’s side are just five games away from a return to the top-flight after climbing back to the top of the Championship table, beating Middlesbrough on Tuesday to overtake Burnley and Sheffield United.
After Dan James had scored Leeds’ winner in the second minute and Ao Tanaka had another first-half striker wrongly chalked off for offside, Patrick Bamford came off the bench to make a goalscoring return
However, Bamford was also incorrectly met with the linesman’s flag, meaning the 31-year-old is yet to officially find the net in his seventh season at Leeds; one of several which has been scuppered by injury.
Sources have told Football Insider that if Farke’s side do win promotion, Leeds’ top priority this summer will be to sign a centre-forward, despite the speculation over the out-of-form Illan Meslier’s future.
Bamford and Piroe on borrowed time at Leeds United
While Karl Darlow has proven an able short-term replacement for Meslier so far, Leeds’ situation is more complex up front, with Bamford’s fitness and Joel Piroe’s inconsistency both being huge concerns.
Piroe may be Leeds’ top scorer this season and also the Championship’s second-highest with 15 goals, but sources have told Football Insider that doubts linger at Leeds over his ability to make the step up.
The last of Piroe’s 15 strikes came seven games ago in Leeds’ 3-1 win over Sheffield United, and with Farke unable to consistently rely on Bamford – if ever – the Whites need a top-level striker to come in.
Mateo Joseph has failed to deliver on the promise he showed in pre-season, and with the gulf between the Premier League and Championship ever-growing, Leeds must attack the very top of the market.
Leeds look to repeat transfers after previous promotion
Sources have told Football Insider that six members of Farke’s squad are seen as shoe-ins to start for Leeds in the Premier League, but none of the German’s three striking options make up that number.
Former Leeds goalkeeper Paul Robinson, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, urged Leeds to make a splash by signing Tammy Abraham from Roma, in a similar vein to their spree of signings back in 2020.
That summer saw Leeds break their transfer record to sign a starting Spain international in the form of Rodrigo, while Raphinha also arrived on Deadline Day; and five years on, is a Ballon D’Or contender.
Such outlandish deals may not be the case this summer, but if Leeds are to back Farke to the hilt and give him the best chance of competing in the Premier League, their ambitions must be sky-high.