Leeds United probably do not need to panic about their attacking options just yet.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has given Daniel Farke the focal point he wanted up front, while Harry Wilson, Noah Okafor and Brenden Aaronson give the manager different ways to approach games.
However, Farke indicated at the end of the summer window that he would have preferred to sign a couple more experienced forwards.
A couple of injuries, a run of difficult fixtures or simply a shortage of goals can make a position that looked fine in September suddenly become a priority by January.
If that happens, Leeds should have a shortlist ready.
They do not necessarily need another conventional No.9, either. A forward who can score goals while offering something different to Calvert-Lewin could make Farke’s attack considerably harder to defend.
Three names would certainly fit the bill.
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Ermedin Demirovic
Demirovic feels like the most obvious starting point.
The Stuttgart forward has already been linked with Leeds and would bring something that every Premier League manager wants: a player who knows where the goal is.
He is also not restricted to being a traditional penalty-box striker. Demirović can drop deeper, bring teammates into play, and operate alongside another forward.
That could make him particularly interesting to Farke. Calvert-Lewin’s physical presence gives Leeds one type of threat. Adding Demirovic would give the manager the option of using two forwards without simply playing two identical strikers.
There is also the familiarity factor.
Leeds have already looked at the player, so this would not be a case of suddenly discovering him because he scored a few goals in the first half of the season.
The big question would be the price.
Stuttgart would have little reason to sell cheaply, particularly mid-season, but if Leeds decide goals are the difference between a decent season and a genuinely impressive one, this is the sort of investment they could consider.
Brahim Diaz
Brahim is the glamorous option, but unlike some of the names thrown around whenever a big club needs a forward, there is at least some footballing logic to considering him.
He would not be brought in to replace Calvert-Lewin.
Instead, he could operate behind the striker or from either side, giving Leeds another player who can create when games tighten.
That matters because Leeds will inevitably face opponents who sit deep and force them to break down two banks of defenders.
Brahim’s close control, movement, and ability to operate in small spaces would give Farke another way to do that.
A move from Real Madrid would obviously be complicated, and Leeds would need favourable circumstances. But that is different from suggesting somebody like Harry Kane could suddenly decide to move to Elland Road.
Brahim is the kind of ambitious signing Leeds could at least explore if the opportunity presented itself.
And at 27, he would still have plenty of football ahead of him.
Jonathan Burkardt
Burkardt is perhaps the most interesting option from a longer-term perspective.
The German forward has established himself as a serious attacking player, and his move to Eintracht Frankfurt has given him another platform to develop.
He has the mobility to play across the front line and can contribute both goals and link-up play.
That versatility would appeal to Leeds.
Farke does not necessarily need another striker who spends 90 minutes waiting for crosses into the box. He needs players who can move, combine and create space for one another.
Burkardt, who has also made the Germany squad, could potentially offer that. The obvious problem is that Frankfurt would have little incentive to sell a player who has scored six goals in five appearances this season
That makes this the most difficult of the three deals. But it is still the kind of player Leeds should be monitoring.
If he continues to develop into a high-level Bundesliga forward, his value will only increase. Leeds have generally tried to identify players before their reputations and asking prices reach another level, rather than waiting until everybody wants them.
That would be the attraction here.
Leeds don’t need three forwards
Of course, nobody is suggesting Leeds should sign all three. That would be ridiculous.
The point is that Farke has already built a squad with a much stronger attacking base than the one he inherited, so any January addition needs to genuinely improve it.
If Calvert-Lewin keeps scoring, Leeds may decide they don’t need another striker. But if goals become an issue, there are different ways to solve it.
Demirovic would provide another proven goalscorer who could also play alongside Calvert-Lewin.
Brahim would add creativity and unpredictability around the striker.
Burkardt would be a more long-term investment in a versatile forward with room to grow.
Those are three very different profiles, and that is exactly what Leeds should be looking for.
January should not be about signing the biggest name available. It should be about finding the player who gives Farke what his current squad lacks.
If that means more goals, Leeds should already have a few names in mind.
