Phil Hay: Bielsa is very keen to pull off complicated Leeds deal for striker considering options
Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa is “very keen” on signing RB Leipzig striker Jean-Kevin Augustin this month, according to The Athletic journalist Phil Hay.
The Athletic reported on Friday that Leeds are hot on the heels of Augustin, 22, as they aim to sign a new striker before the January transfer window slams shut next week.
Augustin is currently on loan at Monaco and any deal for the Yorkshire giants would require the Ligue 1 club to terminate the forward’s loan spell first.
However it is understood that the France Under-21 international is considering his options at Monaco after starting just two league fixtures since leaving Leipzig on loan.
Former Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Hay admits that the deal would be a complicated one for Leeds to pull off but adds that Bielsa is interested in seeing it being done.
Augustin may not have shone at Monaco this season but in his two campaigns at RB Leipzig, he scored 20 goals in 67 appearances across all competitions.
Augustin is still young at 22-years-of-age and a hit rate of almost one goal in three matches is very impressive for someone playing in a top European league.
Leeds should be able to get him firing in the Championship if he does head to Elland Road before the end of the month but we cannot ignore that this seems like a deal that won’t happen.
Monaco have no obligation to let Augustin go and why would they do that if they feel as though they’d need to replace him?
Monaco would put themselves in the same situation Leeds have found themselves in since losing Eddie Nketiah.
In other Leeds United news, fans are thrilled with this player’s latest display for the Under-23s.