Leeds to sign ‘another A-list striker’ alongside Calvert-Lewin
Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s signing won’t be enough to provide Leeds United with the goals they need to survive this season.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, former Peacocks and England goalkeeper Paul Robinson said that Leeds must “go into the market again” after signing Calvert-Lewin.
The 28-year-old’s move to Elland Road was confirmed by Daniel Farke himself in his press conference ahead of their Premier League opener against Everton, who released Calvert-Lewin earlier this summer.
Robinson has told Football Insider that signing Calvert-Lewin is a ‘coup’ for Leeds, but also argued that the Whites will need to add more firepower to their frontline this summer given his patchy injury record.
Calvert-Lewin has missed 59 Premier League matches over the past four seasons with an availability rate of just 61 per cent, and Robinson told Football Insider that Leeds simply cannot rely on him as a result.
Leeds remain active in the market with long-term interest in Rodrigo Muniz and Aleksandar Mitrovic, and Robinson argued that Calvert-Lewin’s injury history reinforces Farke’s need for another centre-forward.
Calvert-Lewin ‘creates a problem’ for Leeds’ striker hopes
This article contains exclusive comment from Paul Robinson, a football pundit and former England, Tottenham and Leeds goalkeeper.
Calvert-Lewin’s three-year contract at Elland Road has left Leeds fans taken aback, with a huge amount of faith invested in the 28-year-old by Farke and 49ers Enterprises despite his lengthy injury history.
Speaking on the latest Inside Track, Robinson said that despite Calvert-Lewin being a strong signing for Leeds, there’s no denying that another centre-forward will be needed to give them a chance at survival.
“They’re going to need somebody else because you can’t rely on him being fit for the whole season”, Robinson told Football Insider.
“I suspect it’s as frustrating for him as it is for anybody else – [for] the last few seasons, he’s been made of glass.
“[Calvert-Lewin] can’t string eight, 10 games together, which is a problem for Leeds. Leeds need somebody to score 15, 20 goals that will keep him in the Premier League.
“If he’s fit and playing every week, can he do it? Absolutely, yes he can, but that’s the question mark that hangs over him.
“So do they have to go into the market again? I think they do and I expect they will sign that player.”
Leeds look close to home for Calvert-Lewin upgrade
Calvert-Lewin’s long list of absences saw several strikers come in to try and replace him at Everton, with Beto finally succeeding last term and inheriting the departed frontman’s number nine shirt this summer.
However, Football Insider revealed on 15 August that Leeds were readying a formal offer for Beto in a bid to bolster Farke’s attacking stocks further, potentially reuniting Calvert-Lewin and his recent partner.
Leeds are also exploring moves for attacking midfielders and wingers like Bilal El Khannouss and former loanee Manor Solomon, but it’s clear that centre-forward depth is still Farke’s most pressing need.