Leeds bid to sign Ermedin Demirovic looks on the cards as Stuttgart make £12m+ decision

Leeds United might need to get a jog on if they want to sign Ermedin Demirovic as Joel Piroe's replacement.

It was confirmed on Wednesday that Piroe has joined West Ham on a loan-to-buy basis, leaving Daniel Farke a striker down with just days to go before the new Premier League season kicks off.

It's been reported that Leeds want to replace Piroe with a new striker, and Demirovic is someone who's been linked with a move to Elland Road this summer.

The 28-year-old scored 15 goals in 38 appearances across all competitions for Stuttgart last season, before featuring for Bosnia & Herzegovina at the 2026 World Cup.

Sky Sports Germany reported last month that Leeds are "in the mix" to sign Demirovic, but there's been little movement regarding his future since.

However, on Wednesday evening, that changed.

Why Galatasaray could now spark Leeds' bid for a new striker

Sky Sports Germany's Patrick Berger reported via X on Wednesday that Galatasaray have submitted a bid worth £12.8million to sign Demirovic from Stuttgart.

It is understood that the Bosnian is their new top target for the striker position and have also offered the Stuttgart No 9 a long-term contract that includes a pay rise on his current deal in the Bundesliga.

Stuttgart are reported to have rejected that offer, saying that £12.8m isn't enough.

And that adds up with a previous update, which claimed that Leeds would have to pay around £17m for him if they want Stuttgart to accept a bid.

But this offer from Galatasaray could now be the catalyst in a bidding war for the former Augsburg and Freiburg striker.

And Leeds need a new striker now they've lost Piroe to West Ham.

Why Julian Nagelsmann is a big fan of Ermedin Demirovic

Former Germany and Bayern Munich manager Julian Nagelsmann was Demirovic's boss during his spell at RB Leipzig earlier in his career.

Although Demirovic never played for the Leipzig first team and only featured for their youth sides before leaving for Alaves in 2017, he made quite the impression on Nagelsmann.

Speaking to RB Live in 2021, Nagelsmann said the Bosnian has a "street footballer mentality", adding: "He has excellent vision, can hold onto the ball, and can find supporting players."

Since Leipzig let him go, he's bagged 57 goals in 183 Bundesliga games across spells at Freiburg, Augsburg and Stuttgart, netting at least 12 in each of his last three league campaigns.