Leeds United have been installed favourites to sign Aston Villa centre-forward Ross McCormack, according to the latest bookmakers’ odds.
SkyBet have listed Thomas Christiansen’s side as 2/1 frontrunners to land the 31-year-old before the close of the January transfer window.
The Scottish striker has been on loan with Australian A-League club Melbourne City this season and they are priced as the 9/1 second-favourites to sign him up.
Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest (16/1) and Rangers (25/1) are considered outsiders for his signature and he is still odds-on at 1/2 to remain at Villa Park for the second half of the season.
McCormack is a proven goalscorer at Championship level and has 120 goals in 333 appearances in England’s second-tier.
Leeds are listed as favourites to re-sign their former striker and there has been reported interest in him.
The print edition of The Sun claimed on Tuesday, in a screenshot uploaded on his personal Twitter account by United fan Mark Rikko, that the Whites are plotting a raid for Villa pair Tommy Elphick and McCormack.
It is understood that the striker is available at £4.5million after falling out with Villa boss Steve Bruce.
https://twitter.com/markrikko/status/955703019852746752
OPINION
It has been clear all January that Leeds need to bring in a prolific goalscorer to fire them to the play-off positions this season and former ace McCormack would fit the bill. The Whites have plenty of creative maestros in their team and the Villa man would surely thrive off service from the likes of Samu Saiz and Pablo Hernandez. Christiansen can reflect on a very good January window if they get a deal for McCormack over the line, but if they miss out on a senior striker then they could be condemned to yet another season in the Championship. Kemar Roofe and Pierre-Michel Lasogga will chip in with their fair amount, but without extra firepower they could fall short with their promotion bid.