By Pranav Shahaney

25th Jul, 2022 | 5:10pm

Leeds United in talks to sign out-of-favour striker Mergim Berisha

Leeds United target and German striker Mergim Berisha is reportedly no longer wanted by Fenerbahce manager Jorge Jesus.

According to Turkish media outlet Haber Global, Jesus does not consider the 24-year-old in the squad while his former manager Jesse Marsch is keen on bringing him to Elland Road.

The American requested the Leeds hierarchy to initiate talks to sign the centre forward and negotiations are set to continue for his services this summer.

Better options out there

We can understand why Marsch would want to bring another player that he’s previously worked with to Elland Road in this transfer window.

He has a typical style of play and may want to deploy a 4-2-2-2 system that will not be a suitable fit for most players he’s currently got in the squad.

However, the 24-year-old should be way down the priority list as the Whites cannot afford to go from the likes of Arnaud Kaliumendo and Charles De Ketelaere to the German.

Playing as a central striker – whose job is to primarily score goals – Berisha’s return was a meagre tally of four strikes from 22 league games.

It’s not like he sacrificed his goal-scoring duties to set up chances for his teammates as he bagged two assists for the entirety of the campaign.

Hopefully, the club are only talking to him as a last resort and fall-back option and do not prioritise him over the aforementioned targets.

In other Leeds United news, the Whites have submitted a fresh bid to sign their first-choice target this summer as a Champions League club has pulled out of the deal.