Leeds United’s January transfer priority revealed after ‘bizarre’ deal already agreed
Leeds United have endured a difficult start to life in the Premier League this season and remain concerned about the prospect of relegation.
Daniel Farke’s side suffered a 2-0 defeat against Burnley, knocking them down to 16th in the table while handing potential relegation rivals an extra three points.
Despite the result, Leeds had no issues creating chances as they racked up 19 shots, created four big chances, and ended the game with 2.63 xG. [via Sofascore]
As a result, there is a growing feeling that Leeds must strengthen their attacking options, with plans already being put in place ahead of the January transfer window.
This comes after Football Insider revealed on 7 September that Leeds are concerned about their attacking options, and could look to bolster their squad in January.
Leeds United working on deal to sign new striker
Farke has set his sights on one position in particular which he is desperate to upgrade, with a new striker at the top of his list of priorities for the January transfer window.
That is according to former Man United and Sunderland chief scout Mick Brown, who remains very well-connected within the game, as he exclusively told Football Insider that Leeds are desperate to land a new striker to compete with Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Meanwhile, Football Insider revealed on 14 September that Leeds are planning to sign a new striker and winger when the mid-season window opens.
“Leeds need somebody who is going to score goals for them,” Brown told Football Insider.
“It’s become a major issue for them, because at the end of the day if you can’t score goals, you’re not going to win games and at this level that results in relegation.
“So their scouts and recruitment people, I’m sure, are working hard to identify their options.
“Almost every Premier League club needed a striker in the summer, lots of teams went out and spent big, and some have been more successful than others.
“Leeds are among those looking, and they ended up agreeing to sign Calvert-Lewin.
“It was a bizarre decision for me, it would have been fine to bring him in alongside another striker because on a free, it’s not a bad deal.
“But he came in as their first-choice striker, when everybody knows what his record in front of goal has been like over the last few years.
“He was never going to be somebody they could rely on for goals, and so now coming up to the January window, they’re having to look to bring somebody else in.
“It has to be their priority when the window opens to bring in a regular and reliable goalscorer.”
The “bizarre” decision to sign Calvert-Lewin during the summer has been widely criticised given his lack of conviction in front of goal, with Leeds left scrambling for another striker.
Leeds in ‘big trouble’ after Calvert-Lewin verdict
Brown warned Football Insider on 16 September that Leeds are in big trouble as a result of their lack of firepower and are at growing risk of being relegated.
The Peacocks currently sit three points above Nottingham Forest, who currently occupy 18th place and have just completed the appointment of Sean Dyche.
Wolves and West Ham are the other teams currently in the relegation zone, and both have been heavily tipped for relegation after awful starts to the season.
However, Leeds and their fellow newly-promoted side Burnley remain the favourites to go down and something will have to change to convince people otherwise.
With Calvert-Lewin currently representing their main attacking threat, concerns about their form in front of goal are unlikely to fade unless a new signing is made.
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