Leeds have 'half an eye' on 'unbelievable' 53-goal star at Elland Road
Leeds United have ‘half an eye on’ Coventry City striker Viktor Gyokeres as the transfer window nears its conclusion, according to journalist Dean Jones.
It has been a busy summer in west Yorkshire with several new signings arriving, but Jesse Marsch is yet to welcome a striker to the club to provide cover and competition for Patrick Bamford.
What is the latest news involving Leeds?
Bamford only started seven Premier League games last season after picking up a string of injury issues and has already spent time on the treatment table this time around due to an adductor problem.
When asked if he wants a new striker in a recent press conference, Marsch answered openly: “Yes. How likely? Dependent on a lot of others, how things play out, and availability elsewhere.
“We do not have a surplus of money to go out and spend a huge transfer. We’re waiting to see. We’re communicating with agents and clubs. We need to see what their situation is.”
And several forwards have been linked with a move to Elland Road, including Southampton’s Che Adams, Ben Brereton Diaz of Blackburn Rovers and FC Zurich’s highly-rated teenager Wilfried Gnonto.
Rodrigo, an attacking midfielder by trade, has been filling in admirably for Bamford in recent weeks, but with youngsters Joe Gelhardt and Sam Greenwood Leeds’ only other natural options upfront, Marsch will surely be eager to make one last signing.
What has Jones said about Gyokeres?
Leeds have done the majority of their shopping overseas this summer yet could turn their attention to the Championship in the final hours of the transfer window.
And Jones has disclosed to GiveMeSport that Gyokeres is also on Marsch’s radar and that he has ‘a feeling’ they could opt to sign the 24-year-old ahead of Brereton Diaz.
He said: “They have half an eye on Gyokeres at Coventry, and I’ve still got a feeling that if they were to go down that route, they might end up turning to him instead (of Brereton Diaz).”
Would Gyokeres be a good signing?
Gyokeres is a seven-cap Sweden international who first arrived in English football back in January 2018 when Brighton snapped him up from Brommapojkarna in his homeland.
The 6 foot 2 ace made just eight senior appearances for the Seagulls, though, and struggled to make an impact during loan spells with Swansea City and St. Pauli.
However, Gyokeres enjoyed the most productive season of his career in 2021/22, registering 18 goals and five assists in 47 appearances across all competitions for Coventry, taking his senior tally up to 53 and resulting in Mark Robins labelling him “unbelievable”.
Whether he could replicate that sort of form in the Premier League remains to be seen, but he could be a risk worth taking for Leeds at this stage of the summer.