Leeds make contact to sign “wonderful” £12m star

Leeds United have a number of massive selections to make on gamers at present on the membership between now and when the summer time switch window slams shut at first of September.

The Whites have to resolve which gamers are able to make the soar from the Championship to the Premier League, and which of them have to be moved on.

Journalist Mike McGrath lately reported that Dan James is about to place pen to paper on a brand new long-term contract at Elland Highway to stay on the membership.

It is a massive present of religion from Daniel Farke and the membership because it reveals that there’s a perception behind the scenes that he’ll play a key function within the Premier League subsequent time period.

The Wales worldwide plundered 12 targets and 9 assists within the Championship final season, however there may be nonetheless a query mark over his skill to make an influence on the prime stage.

Why Dan James might wrestle subsequent season

There is no such thing as a doubt concerning the former Swansea star’s high quality at Championship stage, provided that he produced 25 targets and 16 assists in two seasons with Leeds, however he has but to show himself persistently within the Premier League.

James has performed 4 Premier League seasons in his profession up to now, with Manchester United, Leeds, and Fulham mixed, and has by no means been a constant performer in entrance of purpose.

In these 4 campaigns, the Welsh speedster by no means managed greater than 4 targets or greater than six assists within the division, which is a far cry from the type of type he has displayed within the second tier.

After a return of 4 targets and 4 assists in 31 Premier League begins within the 2021/22 marketing campaign for Leeds, the Whites determined to ship him out on mortgage to Fulham for the 2022/23 season.

As you possibly can see within the desk above, James struggled badly throughout his time with the Londoners, with simply three purpose contributions in 24 video games earlier than his return to Elland Highway to play within the Championship.

This means that there is no such thing as a assure that the Wales worldwide will probably be a key participant, a minimum of as an everyday starter, within the Premier League for Farke subsequent season.

With this in thoughts, it could make sense that Leeds are reportedly concerned with including one other choice to the squad in that space of the pitch this summer time.

Leeds enquire about deal for Serie A ahead

In line with TuttoJuve reporter Mirko Di Natale, Leeds United are one in every of a lot of golf equipment concerned with a deal to signal Timothy Weah from Juventus.

The journalist claims that the Whites have already made contact with the Italian giants to make an enquiry a few attainable transfer for the USA worldwide this summer time.

Di Natale provides, although, that there’s loads of competitors for his signature as a result of fellow Premier League facet Everton and French outfit Marseille are additionally eyeing him up.

It has beforehand been reported that Nottingham Forest even have an curiosity within the versatile large participant, who is alleged to be valued at round £12m by Juventus.

It now stays to be seen whether or not or not the Championship champions are prepared to maneuver additional with their pursuit of the 25-year-old ace, who may are available as an improve on Dan James.

Why Leeds ought to signal Timothy Weah

The Whites ought to push to strike a deal for Weah, for a payment of round £12m, earlier than the top of the summer time switch window as a result of he may very well be a top quality addition to the group.

At a minimal, the American ahead would supply James with actual competitors for his place and probably push him to enhance by taking away any complacency he might have.

Nonetheless, the potential is there for Weah to reach at Elland Highway as an improve on the Welsh attacker if Farke unleashes him without any consideration winger regularly.

Within the 2024/25 marketing campaign, he performed 22 occasions as both a full-back or a wing-back on each flanks, and was solely given 16 outings as a winger or as a ahead. In these 16 video games, Weah scored 5 targets and supplied two assists within the Serie A, which speaks to the type of high quality he can present when performed in his pure place.

The American star, who as soon as scored in opposition to James and Wales on the 2022 World Cup, has proven that he could make a big effect in a significant European league when performed within the ahead areas, and his type compared to the Leeds winger’s type in his final season within the Premier League additional backs that up.

As you possibly can see within the desk above, Weah posted extra spectacular attacking statistics than James did in that Premier League marketing campaign, regardless of taking part in as a full-back for lots of his time on the pitch for the Outdated Girl.

He managed 5 Serie A targets in complete for Juventus, regardless of his fixed place adjustments, while James has by no means produced greater than 4 targets in a top-flight season.

These statistics counsel that the USA worldwide, who was as soon as hailed as “fantastic” by former boss Brendan Rodgers, has the potential to supply much more than James on the prime finish of the pitch from a proper wing place.

The 25-year-old star has proven that he can compete on the prime stage, as additional evidenced by a return of 1 purpose and one help in 5 begins within the Champions League final time period, and this implies that the ahead is able to hit the bottom working within the Premier League.

Subsequently, Leeds ought to swoop to signal Weah this summer time as a result of he may instantly enhance the group, as an improve on James, as a participant who has already confirmed his high quality at one of many largest golf equipment on this planet.