Leeds United were in the market for a striker in the summer transfer window, and after missing out on a couple of priority targets, they signed Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who was available as a free agent.
Calvert-Lewin has looked good at the start of the season and scored his first goal for the club in his side’s 3-1 win over Wolves at Molineux earlier this month.
Daniel Farke insisted that the 28-year-old striker was his Man of the Match in the 2-2 draw at home against Bournemouth at the weekend, despite the forward missing a couple of chances during the game.
His performances have allowed Leeds fans to forget the blunders of the transfer, but one of the club’s top striker targets has broken his silence about what happened over the summer transfer window.
‘They sold me to every club’ – Leeds United transfer target Artem Dovbyk breaks silence
Roma were looking to sell Dovbyk in the summer after they signed Evan Ferguson from Brighton, and he was not seen as someone who would be part of Gianpiero Gasperini’s plans.
Leeds lodged enquiries into the possibility of signing the striker, who was believed to be available for a deal worth £26m.
Dovbyk admitted that there was too much speculation about his future at the club, and he is happy the transfer window closed earlier this month.
The striker is enjoying his role under Gasperini and insists that he feels more focused at the moment.
“Many have spoken to me: they were going to sell me to all the clubs; luckily, the transfer window is over”, Dovbyk told reporters.
“Now I’m more focused, I know the role I have here and I want to enjoy it.”
Club dodged a bullet in the summer
Dovbyk is not a certain starter at Roma this season, and has scored once in four Serie A games this season.
The Ukrainian has the physicality that could have helped him to adapt had he joined Leeds, but the club did a good job by not signing him.
He would have cost around £26m for a striker who is of the same age as Calvert-Lewin, who was snapped up on a free transfer in the summer.
However, more importantly, it seems Dovbyk was not keen to leave Roma, and it appears that he was never interested in a move to Leeds.
Calvert-Lewin wanted to join Leeds, and his performances show that he has a point to prove at Elland Road this season. Leeds made the right decision in the summer.
Can you name the team Leeds United signed these players from in the 2000s?
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And how much would he have taken in wages compared to DCL? Your argument is way off base regarding costs. And would he have buried one of the three chances DCL had? Probably
And Farke said DCL man of the match? What game was he watching?