Leeds United appear to be on the verge of a £20 million-plus transfer splurge, with the 49ers expected to splash the cash on three new signings in the coming days.
The Whites have been aiming to strengthen their roster after losing many senior first-team players this summer, and they appear to be taking their interest to the next level, with offers for Swansea attacker Joel Piroe, Rangers master Glen Kamara, and Genk star Joseph Paintsil on the table.
Leeds have long been interested in Piroe, and the Dutchman is now “increasingly likely” to leave South Wales this summer, with Daniel Farke’s side working on a deal.
Piroe has been one of the Swans’ most productive attackers in the Championship since joining the club, finding the goal 46 times in 96 games and would go a long way toward easing Elland Road’s striker problem, which has been visible for several seasons.
Patrick Bamford and Georginio Rutter do not look to be the perfect fit for the Whites as they seek a return to the Premier League, and a £10 million deal has been suggested.
Kamara is seen as a replacement for the departing Tyler Adams, and after being kept out of the Rangers team, he is believed to be available for a sum of £5.5 million Scottish Sun, 22 August], with Leeds “desperate” to get the Finnish midfielder.
Leeds have needed strengthening in the middle of the park, even before Adams departed Elland Road. Even with Ethan Ampadu and Archie Gray impressing in the heart of midfield Farke needs more options, especially given Gray’s inexperience at only 17 years old, the Whites can’t afford to be too reliant on his services.
The third potential transfer in the Whites’ transfer spree looks likely to be Genk attacker Paintsil, with Sky Sports reporting on Tuesday (22 August) that the Ghanaian international is being monitored by Leeds.
Geek would require £8.5m to allow Painstil to depart Belgium this summer, which would take the trio of arrivals in Yorkshire all above £20m, on top of the additions of Ampadu and Darlow earlier this summer.
Promotion business
Although this latest spree feels like an expensive trio of deals for the Whites, it is the sort of business that needs to be completed by the 49ers this summer, if they have aspirations of returning to the Premier League at the first time of asking.
The mass exodus at Elland Road has seen Farke left with an incredibly talented, but threadbare squad, with far too many holes in it to be considered a genuine promotion favourite this season, but that can easily be changed with a few additions.
The foundation of a competitive roster is already in place, and the addition of the three aforementioned acquisitions would bring the sprinting of quality to the group, perhaps allowing the Whites to kick-start their season.
Although most would have expected this type of deal to be concluded before the start of the Championship season, the 49ers’ somewhat mediocre start to the season may have helped Farke and the team discover areas of weakness.
If Leeds can complete these three transfers, they will become a much more dangerous proposition in the Championship.
