Leeds United have opened talks to sign a potential replacement for striker Georginio Rutter as the Frenchman’s departure remains on the horizon according to a report.
Border routes to Leeds exit
Having already lost Crysencio Summerville this summer, Leeds are set to lose French striker Rutter to another Premier League club in the form of Brighton and Hove Albion.
Last week, Leeds United boss Daniel Farke admitted a deal was close after Brighton triggered his £40m release clause and Rutter has already confirmed his decision to leave the Championship side in the coming days.
“I expect him to go. It’s out of our hands. [It’s been] tough. Fair play to Georgio for not shutting himself out. He asked to stay overnight and wanted to help us.
“We tried to convince him, but we have to stick to what was previously signed,” Farke added.
Although Rutter’s departure will bring Leeds more than £100m in cash from sales this summer, those exits have been felt strongly on the pitch.
After two games in the Championship season in which Leeds were promotion favourites, they sit in sixteenth place without a win after a 3-3 draw at Portsmouth was followed by a 0-0 affair at West Bromwich Albion.
Meanwhile, they were knocked out of the EFL Cup in the first round after being beaten 3-0 by Middlesbrough at Elland Road, as their season threatens to disappear before it’s even really started.
Leeds United’s next five games
Match day
Opponents
3
Sheffield Wednesday (away)
4
Hull City (home)
5
Burnley (home)
6
Cardiff City (away)
7
Coventry City (home)
Additions are needed and quickly, with Farke revealing he wants four new faces before the transfer window closes in two weeks. Now he may have identified one of them.
Leeds have opened negotiations to sign the striker for £8m
Reporter Marc Mechenoua claims Leeds are in talks with Swedish side Hammarby IF over a deal to sign striker Jusef Erabi this summer.
The 21-year-old striker has scored seven goals in the Swedish first division this season and his form has attracted the attention of clubs in England’s second division.
And Farke’s side are among those keen to bring him to England as talks are “under way” to add to the depleted strikers at Elland Road ahead of the transfer deadline.
Leeds aren’t the only team chasing his signature though, with Norwich also keen to make a move for the youngster after selling Adam Idaho to Celtic in the summer. Both clubs have been warned it will cost €10m (£8m) to leave the Swede this summer, but with both clubs having just completed major sales, the price may not be a stumbling block.
Could the 21-year-old replace Rutter at the Elland Road side, or should the Whites look elsewhere to secure promotion back to League One?