Leeds in pole position to beat Sunderland to sign forward available on loan-to-buy
Leeds United are leading the race to sign Southampton striker Cameron Archer on a loan-to-buy deal, according to TBR Football.
The report (30 January) has detailed that Leeds have opened talks with Saints over a move for the 23-year-old, who is also wanted by Sunderland.
The two Championship clubs are vying for promotion to the Premier League, with which the Whites would then be obligated to buy Archer as part of a potential deal with Southampton.
Leeds United intent on Cameron Archer deal
Many have argued Leeds United need to upgrade their attacking options through the middle, with Joel Piroe having hit double figures in the league but thrown in inconsistent performances.
Mateo Joseph is enduring a barren run in front of goal, while Patrick Bamford is well out of favour under Daniel Farke these days and Joe Gelhardt has left on loan to Hull City, where he is already off the mark.
Archer has featured 21 times in the Premier League this season for Southampton but only scored two goals – the worst fact of the matter for Ivan Juric’s side is that he remains the joint-top scorer in the league in a red and white shirt.
Only 10 of his 21 games have been starts with only three games from the off since the end of November, with Adam Armstrong often preferred to lead the line.
Archer’s previous experience of the Championship has come with Preston and Middlesbrough during loan spells as a youngster, scoring a combined 18 goals in 42 appearances across the two clubs.
He featured in the Premier League last season for Sheffield United, too, and with Leeds and Southampton on course to switch divisions come May, Archer could be a Leeds frontman for years to come.
In other Leeds news, the “red flags” which could be associated with signing Kelechi Iheanacho.
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