Leeds United transfer news as bargain Joel Pohjanpalo clause emerges
Leeds United striker target Joel Pohjanpalo has a £3.4m release clause in his Venezia contract this summer according to TuttoMercatoWeb, making him the perfect new signing for the Whites this summer.
The Finnish forward was reported to be a target for Daniel Farke’s side by Italian newspaper Corriere Del Veneto (7 August, page 12) and has attracted interest from several sides in the Championship and even West Ham United.
Venezia are actively looking to renew the striker’s contract in an attempt to remove the release clause from his contract, so Leeds have to act now to secure his signature and strengthen their frontline quickly.
Last season Pohjanpalo scored 19 goals in 37 Serie B appearances and before his time in Italy, the 28-year-old was prolific in the Turkish Super Lig on top of that he is a seasoned international playing for his national side in 68 matches and scoring 14 goals.
The Venezia striker isn’t particularly involved in play outside of the penalty area, instead operating in and around the penalty area where he is most prolific, and this is displayed in his FBref scouting report of his 2020/21 Bundesliga season.
Of his positional peers in the division that season, the striker fell in the top 10% of forwards for none-penalty goals and non-penalty xG per 90 minutes played and averaged over three shots per game, better than most of the other forwards in the division.
While Pohjanpalo doesn’t get particularly involved outside of the final third, he still is a very progressive passer, lying in the 80th percentile for progressive passes per 90, while also being a force in the air, winning more than three aerials per appearance.
Right fit for Leeds
Leeds have creative players in their squad already, with one of the most well-stocked wing departments in English football, let alone the Championship, therefore they aren’t in the market for a creative striker instead they need a genuine proven goal scorer.
Patrick Bamford used to be capable of being that sort of player, in his last season in England’s second tier he scored 16 goals and followed it up with a 17-goal campaign in the Premier League, but he has failed to reach those heights since.
Pohjanpalo would provide the goals that the rest of the forwards may not be able to and with his fox-in-the-box style of play, he would be able to put away the chances that the rest of the Leeds team have struggled to finish in recent seasons.
For such a nominal fee when compared to other targets like Youseff Poulsen or Joel Piroe, a potential cut-price deal for the Finnish striker is far too good an opportunity for Farke’s team to pass up on.
This could be the perfect move.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites may have already found their Tyler Adams replacement