Revealed: Leeds to offload striker this summer after decision made
EXCLUSIVE By Pete O'Rourke
Leeds United have decided not to take up the option to sign Pierre-Michel Lasogga on a permanent contract, Football Insider sources have learned.
Director of football Victor Orta has confirmed that United can trigger a buy-out clause in Lasogga's contract this summer as part of the deal that brought him to Elland Road from Hamburg last August.
But a well-placed source has told Football Insider that the Leeds hierarchy do not believe Lasogga, 26, has done enough to secure a permanent move.
The German forward has scored 10 goals from 32 appearances in all competitions this season but has not scored since February and has been on the substitute's bench for five of the last seven matches.
Leeds are keen to reinforce their forward ranks but are looking at alternative targets to Lasogga, who has a year remaining on his Hamburg deal.
As revealed by Football Insider, Wales international Tom Bradshaw is a new shock target for United as they look to overhaul a front line that has badly malfunctioned in the second half of the campaign.
Football Insider verdict:
Lasogga has shown glimpses that he can be a decent goal-getter in the Championship, but those glimpses have been few and far between. He has gone 10 Championship games without scoring after netting in three in a row, a slump that has come at the worst possible time for the club, as well as his own aspirations of landing a permanent deal. Before that the German had just two goals between October and February. Leeds did not do enough to replace Chris Wood in the summer and decided to take a cheap loan option rather than splash the cash on a replacement. In the summer the Whites can be expected to sign at least two new forwards. Lasogga will not be one of them.