By George Overhill

25th Aug, 2022 | 5:40pm

Leeds United striker target Che Adams has move ruled out by Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl

Any hopes Leeds United had of signing Che Adams look to have been extinguished by his Southampton boss Ralf Hasenhuttl’s latest comments.

Everton were making the biggest play for the Welsh international as the end of the window nears but as the talkSPORT report on the Saints boss’ reaction points out he has been linked to an Elland Road move for the past two summers.

However, after scoring a brace in two consecutive games for the south coast side the Austrian manager has ruled out the chances of the striker moving anywhere.

He said in a press conference, via talkSPORT: “I can categorically say that he is our player and that he will stay with us, we love him and especially when he scores goals.”

The 26-year-old was valued at approximately £25million, and the Whites have been looking for an extra option up front for the last couple of months.

United boss Jesse Marsch confirmed in his own press conference on Thursday (25 August) that they will still look to add a player but said, via James Marshment, that the club “do not have a surplus of money to go out and spend huge transfer”.

Dwindling

The club have been linked to plenty of targets this summer but the season is now three games in, four including the Carabao Cup victory on Wednesday, without a forward signing being made.

Marsch hasn’t let that get in the way of a blistering start to the campaign, which has largely been achieved despite Patrick Bamford already getting injured and Joe Gelhardt also experiencing a set back.

Another body at the position would certainly help guard against a goal shortfall if the same situation continues to come up.

But while the supporting attackers in Rodrigo, Brenden Aaronson and James Harrison are playing at such a high level the problem is starting to look less pressing.

Should their form drop as the season goes on, or if any were knocked out with their own injury, it would surely bring things back into starker focus.

So while Adams certainly doesn’t look like being the man to answer the call there has to be a hope that something does materialise in the final week.

Four goals in the last two games look to have increased Hasenhuttl’s resolve, which is unsurprising, but Marsch would love to add a striker in that sort of form to go alongside Rodrigo’s red-hot run.

In other Leeds United news, frustration is growing for one Premier League rival with their Elland Road target now “highly unlikely” to move.