Alexander Mitrovic to Leeds: O’Rourke shares ‘massive’ claim as door opens to ‘brilliant’ deal
Aleksandar Mitrovic’s massive wages will be the biggest stumbling block for Leeds United’s attempts to sign him from Al-Hilal, sources have told Football Insider.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, senior correspondent Pete O’Rourke revealed what his sources have said about Leeds’ pursuit of the former Fulham centre-forward.
Daniel Farke‘s side are still in the market for a striker as the days tick down towards their Premier League opener, and Leeds’ need for a goalscorer has increased in the wake of Mateo Joseph‘s loan to Mallorca.
Mitrovic has emerged as an option after Darwin Nunez’s move to Al-Hilal, and Paul Robinson has told Football Insider that Leeds now have the opportunity to complete a transfer to put their rivals on notice.
However, sources have told Football Insider that despite Mitrovic being a proven Premier League striker from his time at Fulham, the Serbian international’s massive wages could put the Whites off signing him.
Football Insider revealed in June that Mitrovic would have to take a massive cut on his £400,000 weekly wages to complete a move to West Ham, and that plus a £40million transfer fee are major obstacles for Leeds’ own hopes.
Leeds in ‘desperate need’ of striker transfer amid Mitrovic links
Fulham’s Rodrigo Muniz remains Leeds’ top target in their increasingly desperate search for a number nine this summer, but that transfer’s continued stagnation has left Farke casting his eyes elsewhere.
Speaking on the new Inside Track, O’Rourke said that Mitrovic could be the striker to provide the goals Leeds need to stay up next season, but his Al-Hilal pay packet remains their greatest stumbling block.
“[Mitrovic] won’t be cheap with his massive wages in the Saudi Pro League, but he’s Premier League-proven”, he told Football Insider.
“Leeds desperately need to bring in somebody who can score the goals [for them] in the Premier League next season, if they’re to have any chance of staying up.
“Mitrovic would be a brilliant signing for Leeds, but they must break the bank to get it done.”
Farke forced to look elsewhere as Leeds’ lack of depth laid bare
Leeds‘ transfer policy this summer has so far been a sensible one of building from the back, with a new goalkeeper, two centre-backs, a left back and a pair of central midfielders already added to the squad.
Lukas Nmecha remains the only attacking addition after Leeds’ ultimately unsuccessful pursuit of Igor Paixao from Feyenoord, and Farke’s frontline is looking threadbare ahead of their Premier League opener.
Patrick Bamford surely follows Joe Gelhardt and Joseph out the exit door, but unless a striker of Muniz or Mitrovic’s calibre arrives in the next few weeks, Leeds’ long-serving number nine could be destined for yet another comeback.
