Leeds United sit at the summit of the Championship table on 79 points, two ahead of second-placed Sheffield United and four ahead of Burnley, who are third in the table. They are the frontrunners to earn automatic promotion to the Premier League and appear to be planning for the transfer window. Leeds have certain priorities at the start of the window should they get promoted. However, the club are aware that they need to bring in a striker or two and they have been scouring the market for options. And it seems Leeds won’t shy away from considering deals from the left-field, even if they would have more money to spend in the summer.
The 2-0 win over Millwall at Elland Road on Wednesday night has calmed down some of the jitters in the fanbase who were feeling anxious after their side dropped five points in their previous two games.
Leeds United are red hot favourites to get promoted to the Premier League and the club are planning for next summer with the assumption that they would be a top-flight team.
The Whites have plans in place to sign Manor Solomon on a permanent deal at the end of the season and the club are laying down the groundwork for several deals they would want to do.
Leeds are aware that they need to bring in strikers in the summer, as they already look short up front, and they would need more quality in that department if they get promoted to the Premier League.
Former Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham has been linked with a move to Elland Road but Leeds are also looking at options in some different markets as well.
Leeds United have their eyes on a Mali international termed the ‘Bull’
Leeds would need a physical presence up front in the Premier League if they get promoted and it appears the recruitment team are aware that Daniel Farke could play a different brand of football in the top flight.
According to Africa Foot, Leeds have laid their eyes on Mali international Ibrahima Kone ahead of the next summer transfer window.
He is on the books of Spanish side UD Almeria but was loaned out to Saudi Arabian side Al-Okhdood last summer where he has scored three times this season.
Kone has been compared with former Chelsea, Everton and Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku due to the physical presence he brings to the table.
The forward is also a prolific hitman at the international level, where he has scored 13 times in 19 appearances for the Malian national team thus far.
He has a contract until 2028 with Almeria but is not part of the club’s plans and has a €10m release clause in his contract with the Spanish club.
Kone is on the shortlist of targets for Leeds and the club would hope to agree a lower negotiated fee if they make a move to sign the striker next summer.
Leeds have a solid working relationship with Almeria and agreed a deal to sign Largi Ramazani from the Spanish side in the last summer transfer window.
His physicality could be an asset in the Premier League next season
Leeds are the entertainers of the Championship this season and are by far the highest scorers in the league. Farke has stuck to his principles and the Whites have played an engaging style of football.
However, that would need to change as recent history suggests that promoted teams who do not change their ways mostly struggle and get relegated back to the Championship.
Farke has to show that he can adapt his style for the Premier League and the interest in Kone shows that there is an understanding that Leeds can’t continue to play in the same way in the top flight.
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Kone might not be a prolific goalscorer but he is unlikely to be the only striker Leeds will sign in the next summer transfer window.
However, the forward has the physical attributes needed to survive in the top flight and provide Leeds an outlet up front to ease the pressure on the defence.
He is still on their shortlist and it appears, Leeds are yet to decide on whether to sign the striker who has played in Norway, Turkey, France, Spain and is now in Saudi.
