Leeds United continue to be busy in the January transfer market with just a week remaining before the deadline, as they look to strengthen their squad further.
Working within tight financial limits, the Whites have already added to their attacking options by securing Facundo Buonanotte on loan from Brighton after he rejected the same move last summer.
Leeds are also assessing striker targets and are understood to be pushing ahead with a deal for Wolves forward Jorgen Strand Larsen, which could still become a club-record signing this winter.
The Norwegian has been keen to join Leeds in the ongoing window. However, it seems the 49ers are again set to disappoint the White supporters this month.
Crystal Palace set to sign Jorgen Strand Larsen
Leeds have been in talks with Wolves for the signature of the striker despite Wolves rejecting their initial offer earlier in the transfer window.
The Whites have been confident of signing him as Strand Larsen favours a move to Elland Road. However, they are now set to miss out on his signature.
According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Palace are now close to securing a deal to sign the Wolves striker in the ongoing winter transfer window.
The Eagles have tabled an improved offer and are now finalising the terms of an agreement that would see the forward move to Selhurst Park in the coming days.
It has been claimed that Palace have offered a deal worth up to £50m to blow the competition out of the water for Strand Larsen.
Leeds remain keen to sign him but are not prepared to offer more than £40m, which was Wolves’ original asking price.
The Whites will now have to focus on other targets as the Norwegian seems to be on his way to South London.
49ers embarrass Leeds again in the transfer market
Leeds never played down their interest in the forward and kept giving out the impression that they are confident of signing Strand Larsen in the winter window.
Yes, Palace are paying over the odds for the forward and have agreed to fork out a lot more than Wolves were initially asking for him. However, that is what needs to be done to land top targets.
If Leeds were under the impression that the figures wouldn’t change, given the competition involved, then the recruitment and negotiating team need to be questioned.
Palace are willing to do whatever is necessary to land a top target, and their desperation showed, while Leeds banked on the striker’s interest in moving to Elland Road.
With Joel Piroe not earning Daniel Farke’s trust, Leeds could now be one Dominic Calvert-Lewin injury away from being in trouble in the second half of the season.
If money was always going to be tight, Leeds should have kept this quiet rather than making it clear that they wanted to sign Strand Larsen this month.
Th 49s are toothless and never had the genuine intention to buy Larsen – so what is the backup plan for another player or is this going to be another ‘we are not going to buy players for the sake of it’ …… if they don’t bring in another striker and another player relegation is on their heads. There is no excuse for them – there are other players that can be brought in to improve the team. They are RISKING everything. Gambling on the team we have that is just above relegation quality at best with all palyers fit. SACK THE RECRUITMENT TEAM NOW.
Same 49ers tactics; chase players they can’t get; offer low money they know won’t be accepted, then claim the fee isn’t their valuation. We’ve seen this numerous times. It keeps the fans quiet. They waited for Palace to come in, because they could have done 40 million and done the deal for over a week. They are playing a game with us.