Leeds United have already wrapped up a big move for Facundo Buonanotte this month. And now the 49ers want to crown this window, targeting another big signing.
Per reports, a move for Jorgen Strand Larsen is in the pipeline; the Whites have offered a bid close to Wolves’ £40 million valuation, with the deal said to be completed in the coming days. Graham Smyth has already revealed that Leeds are focused on getting this deal done by the end of the window.
But there is one transfer link that seems to have disappeared since emerging at the start of January.
Insider rules out move for Leeds United target
Leeds United were linked with a move for Werder Bremen attacker Romano Schmid. He was supposedly the main target before a deal was quickly wrapped up for Facundo Buonanotte. According to Graham Smyth, the move for the Brighton man was seen as a much better option than getting Schmidt, and now it is very unlikely a move for the Austrian happens this month:
“Yes, there was interest in the player (Romano Schmid). He was an option.” Smyth said on the Inside Elland Road podcast.
“I’m pretty sure they looked at him in the summer, but for whatever reason, didn’t pull the trigger then, or they couldn’t pull the trigger then.
“It was Christmas time when they started to talk about Buonanotte, and I think he was option A because a loan makes a lot more sense for Leeds PSR-wise than a permanent… They got option A, and at that point, they stopped talking about tens… it would have to take an awful lot to change for Leeds to go and get Romano Schmid in this window,”
Romano Schmid was not needed with Buonanotte signing
The 49ers delivered a masterstroke bringing Facundo Buonanotte on board. The team was down one attacking player after Jack Harrison left to Fiorentina, and the club needed some quality in attacking areas. Daniel Farke has not been shy about his preference for a dynamic attacking midfielder – and the Argentine fits this role. So the move for Romano Schmid after that news was baffling.
| Player | Games | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Facundo Buonanotte | 8 | 1 | 2 |
| Romano Schmid | 18 | 2 | 5 |
Now that Graham Smyth has hinted that the deal is dead, the club can now focus on other areas of the team. Leeds United can also push to complete the signing of Jorgen Strand Larsen. As much as the 49ers have focused on the attack, they should keep an eye out for defensive depth – injuries to Joe Rodon, and most recently Gabriel Gudmundsson has shown that Leeds need some bodies in those areas of the pitch.
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