Leeds United emerge as prime suitor for ‘highly coveted’ Sory Ibrahim Diarra transfer after agent receives contacts
Leeds United are one of the key suitors for “highly coveted” striker Sory Ibrahim Diarra, according to a report from Mali Actu.
The outlet reported via their website on 8 December that the Whites and Italian side Salernitana were two of the teams to be uncovered in the race for the 23-year-old forward, after his agent had revealed “several” unnamed club directors had contacted him.
The Haugesund forward has scored eight league goals so far this season for the Norwegian side, while adding another with two assist in the cup.
And after rumours of widespread interest in his services were apparently confirmed it is Leeds United who are one of two named options for him, who are said to be “positioning themselves” for a potential move.
Unexpected
Allowing for the fact that it still feels like Joel Piroe and Georginio Rutter might be playing in each others’ positions for Daniel Farke there doesn’t seem to be a huge need for reinforcements up front currently.
If anything it looks like there aren’t enough opportunities to go round at present, with Joe Gelhardt likely to need to look for game time elsewhere in the January window, and potentially Mateo Joseph the same.
Patrick Bamford has been the regular next man up behind the main two central attackers, and Sonny Perkins is already out on loan.
But any club should always plan for the future rather than wait until a need is pressing so it is possible that Nick Hammond has focused on Diarra as one to be established further down the line.
Willy Gnonto arrived ahead of last season with the expectation that he would develop for a while before breaking into the team and he ended up being one of the bright spots in a dismal season, so the situation can change.
But at 23 Diarra would surely expect to be involved sooner rather than later if he is a target for a midseason switch.
He would seem to be a relatively affordable option if the report is accurate, if slightly left field, although a left back or a specialist number 10 are probably greater priorities for the current campaign.
In other Leeds United news, a “brilliant” player currently having an impact at a former rival side is the one man wanted back at Elland Road from the loanees.