Leeds make approach to sign RB Leipzig striker Conrad Harder as director speaks out
Leeds United have approached RB Leizpig over a potential late summer swoop for striker Conrad Harder.
The 21-year-old Denmark international scored in his first game of the season on Saturday when he netted in a 6-0 German Cup victory over Eintracht Trier.
Leipzig signed Harder last year from Sporting CP for around £25million, but it seems his future could lie elsewhere amid growing interest from Leeds, who are keen on a striker before the transfer window shuts at 11pm next Tuesday.
It's now been reported in Denmark that Leeds are "making moves and have contacted" Leipzig over a move for Harder.
It remains to be seen if the Red Bull connection will have any sway on the deal for Leeds.
However, they are facing competition for the Dane's signature.
Who Leeds are battling for Conrad Harder signing
According to Danish news outlet Tipsbladet, Lazio have made an offer for the RB Leipzig youngster.
It is understood that the Serie A club have made a loan-to-buy bid, which includes a large loan fee and an option-to-buy clause for next season.
Leeds haven't done more than reach out to Leipzig yet, however, Tipsbladet does say that "behind the scenes offers" have been made from the Premier League, and don't name any other English clubs in their report.
Either way, Harder is the kind of "strong" striker who the Whites might need before the transfer window closes as Daniel Farke does need to add some extra firepower to his attack.
Last term, Harder scored just three times for Leipzig in 32 appearances across all competitions. However, he only managed to start nine times in those games.
At Sporting CP, he netted 12 times in 52 appearancs and during his spell at former club Nordsjaelland, he bagged nine goals in 41 senior outings.
RB Leipzig director responds to Harder speculation
Leipzig chief Marcel Schafer has had to deny that Harder is available for sale ahead of the transfer window closing.
As quoted by Tipbladet, the director said: "That is simply not true. We have seen that he is a very valuable player, he scored important goals for us last year, including in the important match against Frankfurt, which we won 3-1. And today (Saturday) he also came on and scored a goal."
That's true about Harder, he did score those goals.
However, as mentioned, he was hardly a first-choice option for the Bundesliga club last term and the fact he played against a fourth-tier club in the German Cup on Saturday may have been more of a case of putting him in the shop window.
Harder did earn his debut cap for Denmark earlier this year when he came off the bench in a Nations League quarter-final defeat to Portugal.
His value has likely risen in his short time at Leipzig, but Leeds will no doubt have the money - and the connections - to get this deal done if they want to.