Where Leeds United stand in Liam Delap pursuit as Daniel Farke wants new striker
Leeds United and Liam Delap's names have been tied together over the last day.
The Whites are in the market for a striker and the path for a move for Delap has begun opening up.
With Chelsea pushing to sign Brighton's Danny Welbeck, the Englishman's future at Stamford Bridge is far from secure.
MOT Leeds News has covered reports that Delap has been eyed by Leeds this summer window.
The Chelsea man is attracting plenty of interest elsewhere as well, with that report sharing a possible price of between £35million and £40m.
Now, an update on that interest has emerged, sharing where exactly the Whites stand in the race for the forward.
What is the latest on Leeds' interest in Liam Delap?
Leeds are continuing their push for reinforcements and after James Trafford's deal is confirmed, they will look elsewhere.
According to Graham Smyth for the Yorkshire Evening Post, a new centre-forward is on the agenda for the Whites this summer.
However, it seems that Liam Delap is not viewed as the answer to that problem.
Smyth shares that club sources have told him that the Chelsea striker is "not a forward they are in for."
Carlos Espi has once again been mentioned as a possible arrival but a move has yet to be made.
The 21-year-old Spaniard would fit into the criteria of what Farke and the Whites are looking for, with it being said that they want a forward on “the younger end of the spectrum.”
Why Leeds are acting smart with Delap stance
After Dominic Calvert-Lewin's season last campaign, where he netted 14 Premier League goals, there is little reason to go big on a striker.
The reported £35m to £40m is quite a steep price for a Delap, who ultimately would come in as second-fiddle to their current number nine.
Additionally, after rarely featuring for Chelsea in 2025-2026, there are no guarantees that he can hit the ground running at Elland Road.
It makes much more sense for the LS11 outfit to target a player like Espi, who has a £21.4m release clause.
Time will tell where the striker hunt takes the Whites, but whoever is signed likely won't take over from Calvert-Lewin in the immediate months.
The future of Joel Piroe may also be intertwined with this search, with the Suriname international unlikely to get many minutes should a new striker arrive.