There was a lot of surprise when Dominic Calvert-Lewin signed for Leeds United in the summer transfer window. After being linked with big names like Rodrigo Muniz and Nikola Krstovic, the former Everton man came out of nowhere.
Leeds Managing Director Robbie Evans explained that the reason the club missed out on major names was that they maxed out PSR. But the decision to loan out Mateo Joseph and keep Joel Piroe, only to add free agents Lukas Nmecha and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, was rather confusing.
There was a reason the fans were furious when the deadline passed; they thought the club would invest more in the attack. Even Daniel Farke expected more additions up top.
Three players Leeds United should sign to replace Dominic Calvert-Lewin
This season, Calvert-Lewin started off on a positive note; when he lead the line, he brought others in to play. His aerial ability also allowed the team to go long and direct. The striker scored against Wolves and many thought he would go on a run, but since then he is yet to score. What makes this even worse is the fact that he has missed six big chances down the line.
| Statistic | Dominic Calvert-Lewin |
|---|---|
| Goals | 1 |
| Big Chances Missed | 6 |
| Minutes Played | 615 |
| Expected Goals (xG) | 2.02 |
With January approaching, the chance to add a new striker could be an option. And with how the current players in the team have fared, it may be a priority. Leeds United will not want to repeat the same mistake this time around.
Haji Wright
The Coventry City man is of a similar height and build to Calvert-Lewin. He looks like he can make the step up to lead the line in the Premier League just like he has in the Championship so far. Wright knows how to find the back of the net, but getting him away from his club could be difficult considering they are leading the race for promotion.
Daizen Maeda
Maeda is not the orthodox number nine, but he has a knack for scoring goals in the role. He is very dynamic, and his movement causes problems for the defence. The Celtic man has some versatility, allowing him to play in wide areas too.
Niclas Fullkrug
The German seems to be on his way out of England in January. His time at West Ham has not been the best because he has been hampered by injuries. Fullkrug is a typical target man who will thrive in teams like Leeds, which like to be direct in attack. He could be available on a temporary deal in a couple of weeks.
Leeds fans have seen enough of Dominic Calvert-Lewin; he will not be prolific enough to bail this team out of trouble when they need him. He has let the club down so many times already; some of his misses have been in crucial points of the game where they could have gotten a result.
| Player | Games Played | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Haji Wright | 16 | 9 |
| Daizen Maeda | 14 | 3 |
| Niclas Fullkrug | 7 | 0 |
From now till the end of the year, the Whites have one of the toughest schedules in the league. So it would be understandable if they are in and around the relegation zone by January. And at that point in the season, you need someone who can come in and deliver goals; all these players mentioned would give a better shot than Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
