Leeds United signed Lukas Nmecha and Dominic Calvert-Lewin on free transfers this summer, but both forwards have had injury troubles in recent seasons. Daniel Farke wanted to sign one more striker, but the club failed to bring in any more attacking reinforcements towards the end of the transfer window.
Joel Piroe has struggled to make an impact in the early weeks of the Premier League season, with the team’s only goal across the first three games coming from Nmecha via the penalty spot.
Leeds are banking on Calvert-Lewin to regain fitness and score the goals needed to keep the team in the Premier League, but that is a huge gamble. As things stand, the Whites could be looking for a new striker when the transfer window opens again in January.
Can you name these 10 former Leeds United strikers?
Five strikers Leeds United could sign in the January transfer window
William Osula
Newcastle United signed the 22-year-old striker last summer from Sheffield United, and he scored in their defeat against Liverpool last month. He was close to leaving the club on deadline day after Newcastle signed two strikers, but time ran out for him to complete a move to Germany. With Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa joining Newcastle in the final hours of the window, Osula is unlikely to get much game time in the coming months.
Newcastle are likely to be open to offers for the young forward in the winter window, and Leeds could make a play for Osula. A loan deal with an obligation to buy if the Whites remain in the Premier League could be a mutually beneficial arrangement for all parties.
Marc Guiu
Sunderland signed the young Spanish striker on loan from Chelsea earlier in the transfer window. However, the Blues recalled him on deadline day after Liam Delap picked up an injury over the weekend. However, he is still down the pecking order of strikers at Stamford Bridge.
Joao Pedro is ahead of him, and Delap is expected to regain his fitness in the next couple of months. Guiu is likely to be available on loan again, but a return to Sunderland is unlikely as they have already signed one more striker.
Leeds were interested in the Spaniard before he moved to Sunderland, and they could rekindle their interest in the Chelsea attacker in the winter transfer window.
Gonzalo Garcia
Gonzalo Garcia came to the fore with his performances for Real Madrid during the Club World Cup, and Leeds were among the clubs that were interested in signing him on loan. However, the Spanish giants decided to keep him as part of their squad this season.
The 21-year-old striker has made three substitute appearances for Real Madrid this season and is unlikely to get an opportunity to start many games, given the options Xabi Alonso has in his squad. The club could be open to loan offers for him in the winter window to allow him to play more football.
Leeds may have a chance to rekindle their interest in the young Spanish forward when the window opens again in January.
Jayden Danns
The 19-year-old striker is seen as one of the brightest young prospects to come out of the Liverpool academy in recent years, but he struggled with injuries last season.
Several clubs were interested in signing the young forward on loan, both in England and Europe, but Liverpool decided against letting him leave in the summer transfer window. However, with Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike in their squad, Danns is unlikely to get much game time this season.
Liverpool are likely to reconsider their stance on him in January and loan him out. Leeds could look to sign him if they decide to bring in a young forward in the winter window.
Josh Sargent
Josh Sargent is a familiar name to Leeds fans. He was heavily linked with a move to Elland Road all summer, but he remained at Norwich City. The striker has made a fabulous start to the season in the Championship and has scored five times in four appearances.
He still has close to three years left on his contract, but the forward wants to play in the Premier League, and Daniel Farke has an obvious admiration for him. The Leeds manager may look to reunite with the American at Elland Road in the winter transfer window if he continues to score goals for fun at Norwich this season.
However, if Norwich remain in the promotion race, it could be harder to convince them to sell Sargent in January than it would have been in the summer.
Actions speak louder than words. The situation at present sees dedicated Leeds United fans in limbo, as we wait to see who can save our season. In each of the recent signings I don’t see any exciting strikers who will deliver the goals to keep us up. There’s no hiding place and I hope the owners deliver the manager the right people to form the ‘Rescue group’ and hopefully then once brought on board, our results will improve. Things can only get better. Good luck to everyone at Elland Road.