Leeds United are not yet working on a deal to sign Peterborough goal machine Jack Marriott, according to a reliable journalist.
Yorkshire Evening Post correspondent Phil Hay claimed in a Twitter exchange with a Leeds supporter that the insider information he has been given from Marriott’s camp are “not aware of interest” from the Yorkshire giants.
seem to get linked with Ulloa every window. People close to Marriott not aware of interest from Leeds.
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) January 9, 2018
The Mirror stated on Monday that states Leeds and Hull City lead the chase to land the striker, 23, who scored twice against Aston Villa in the FA Cup on Saturday to take his tally for the season to 23 goals in 36 games.
It is said that it will take a fee of around £3million to prise Marriott from Peterborough, although chairman Darragh MacAnthony subsequently claimed on Twitter that his star player’s valuation is way higher than that.
Good move for Leeds?
Yes, definitely. It is a measure of Marriott’s remarkable progress than the only Englishman to score more goals than him across all four divisions this season is Harry Kane, with 26. Marriott has struck 23 goals, 17 of which have come in 25 league matches, since joining from Luton Town last summer and has made the climb from the fourth tier to League One look an easy one. It is understandable why Leeds would be interested, given that they are crying out for a prolific goalscorer after selling Chris Wood to Burnley for £18million last summer. This would be a deal that could solve the club’s goal problems instantly, given the difficulties in recent times of Pierre-Michel Lasogga and company.
This Is Futbol rating 8/10
Likely to happen?
Hay is a reliable source of Leeds news and the word from Marriott’s representatives is that there is no interest from the Yorkshire club. Yet. That does not mean Leeds are not biding time and waiting for later in the window to make a move for the prolific striker, but it suggests clearly that the centre-forward is not currently A1 priority. Much as Leeds fans won’t want to hear it, the chances of signing Marriott this month are no substantial.
This Is Futbol rating 4/10