Report: Leeds move looking unlikely for six-goal forward in January

Leeds United have been targeting Middlesbrough forward Britt Assombalonga this month according to the Mirror, but a move is looking unlikely now after a report in the Hartlepool Mail.

Leeds have been on the lookout for a new striker all month, and ideally want one in place before Tuesday's clash against Millwall at Elland Road.

The Athletic's Phil Hay reported that Leeds had taken a look at Assombalonga, but that he wasn't on their main list of targets.

The Hartlepool Mail has now poured a lot more cold water on the possibility of the move happening.

The newspaper has reported on their website that Jonathan Woodgate is not looking to lose the 27-year-old and that an injury that has kept him on the sidelines since December has made any move very unlikely.

Assombalonga has scored six goals for Middlesbrough this season but has missed the last nine games.

Leeds would need to pay near the £15million that Middlesbrough paid in 2017, and that would need to include an initial loan given the financial fair play rules in the Championship.

That isn't the worst possible news though. L'Equipe has reported that Red Bull Leipzig forward Jean-Kevin Augustin is closing in on a move to Elland Road.

Augustin isn't as proved at Championship level, but the interest in him from the likes of Crystal Palace proves that he could be a much bigger coup for the Whites.

Patrick Bamford has been stronger in defence than Assombalonga and also loses the ball less frequently than his former teammate [WhoScored] - proving he could be less effective in Marcelo Bielsa's system, and it has already been revealed that the Argentine is very keen to bring in Augustin.

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