Leeds United are on the verge of finalising the arrival of former Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin on a free transfer to bolster their forward line. The 28-year-old has agreed to move to Elland Road after considering several offers in the summer window.
Calvert-Lewin went through his paces in a medical at Leeds’ training ground in Thorp Arch on Thursday and will soon sign a contract that will make him a Leeds player. The club are expected to announce his arrival through official channels soon to close the transfer saga.
The former Everton striker’s imminent move to Leeds has attracted attention. Calvert-Lewin has had injury issues over the last few years, and there are question marks about whether his body can take the rigours of a full Premier League season.
Some in the media have already slammed the imminent transfer, but Leeds are confident that they are about to secure a striker with Premier League experience on a free transfer. They are backing the forward to make an impact in the Leeds squad and help them stay up in the upcoming season.
Can you name the team Leeds United signed these players from in the 2000s?
Troy Deeney believes Leeds should have signed Michail Antonio over Calvert-Lewin
Calvert-Lewin could be available to play Everton on Monday night, but the controversy surrounding his imminent arrival is going to run for a while.
Troy Deeney believes the former Everton forward has the attributes to be a solid striker, and pointed out that a couple of seasons back, Arsenal wanted him.
However, he conceded that Calvert-Lewin’s injuries and availability are the biggest question marks around him, and he has done very little in the last two years.
The former Watford captain believes Leeds should have gambled on Michail Antonio, who is more proven at the Premier League level and is a known quantity.
“Dom is a good kid, and he has got all of these attributes, and at one point Arsenal were looking to sign him”, Deeney said on The Football Exchange podcast.
“He had hardly played in the last two years, he is hardly available, and you are making him his number 9.
“If I were Leeds, I’d have probably looked to buy Michail Antonio.
“I know he had injuries and the car crash, but he is tried, tested, and you know what you are going to get.”
Calvert-Lewin is a big gamble
It has emerged that Calvert-Lewin was not Leeds’ first choice this summer, and Elland Road was far from his preferred destination.
However, Leeds and Calvert-Lewin need this move to work out. The Whites need the goals to survive in the Premier League, and the 28-year-old is keen to prove himself after a frustrating couple of seasons.
He has scored 57 goals in the Premier League, but he has scored 17 times in the top flight in the last four seasons. There are no guarantees he suddenly becomes fitter and more potent at Leeds in the upcoming campaign.
Leeds have taken a huge gamble on his fitness and his ability to find that goalscoring touch that earned the praise of Carlo Ancelotti.
