Leeds United hold talks over potential deal for RB Salzburg striker Noah Okafor
Leeds United have reportedly held talks over a potential deal to sign RB Salzburg striker Noah Okafor, with the forward looking to leave the club this summer, according to Mo Ibrahim.
The Whites have been linked with the 22-year-old Swiss international since the summer transfer window closed [Calcio Mercato, 7 September] and with his contract set to expire at the end of next season, he is set to be on the move in the summer.
Fabrizio Romano reported on his Twitter account on 4 February that the player’s “plan is to leave” the Austrian giants at the end of the campaign.
The Whites reportedly sent scouts to watch the €30m-rated [£26.6m] forward [Calcio Mercato, 2 November] at the start of March.
According to Ibrahim, who is part of Sky Sports Italy journalist Gianluca Di Marzio’s staff, took to his own Twitter account [22 March], and revealed the club have scouted the player since the end of last season. Tottenham are also interested in signing him.
He tweeted: “Noah Okafor is a player to keep an eye on this summer. He wants to move on from RB Salzburg. Tottenham Hotspur amongst clubs interested.”
“Also understand Leeds United have had talks over a potential deal and they scouted him at the end of last season.”
End of Bamford?
It certainly seems as if the Whites are planning for next season, but in a position that they are already well-stacked in.
The club have Rodrigo, January signing Georginio Rutter, youth player Sonny Perkins and Patrick Bamford and considering the stark potential of the former two, it may well be the end of Bamford’s time at Elland Road beyond this summer.
The 29-year-old has looked a shadow of his former self since returning from a long injury lay off and it looks as if the Whites may already be planning for life without him.
Okafor certainly seems the perfect fit. The 22-year-old has established himself as one of the most exciting young forwards on the continent through his scintillating performances for Salzburg both at domestic level and in the Champions League.
Over the past three seasons, the Swiss international has hit 22 goals and 14 assists in the Austrian Bundesliga, whilst also netting six times over the past two seasons with Salzburg making their mark on the grandest club European stage, highlighting his penchant to not only score goals but create them too, and those traits could prove tempting for Leeds this summer.
In other Leeds United news, one player’s exit could depend on Javi Gracia remaining the man in the dugout at Elland Road.
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