OPINION
With most of the deadwood dumped or farmed out on loans, Leeds United are now ready to kickstart the summer business that will provide Marcelo Bielsa with a squad genuinely capable of challenging for promotion.
Marcus Antonsson became the 10th player exit this summer when he completed a permanent transfer to Malmo yesterday to bring to an end his two years at Elland Road.
The Swede was the fourth striker exit in a fortnight, following Pawel Cibicki, Jay-Roy Grot and Mallik Wilks (all loans), as Leeds make room in their squad and on their wage bill for a forward or two who can provide a regular supply of goals.
Encouragingly, the Yorkshire Evening Post report that the £11million the Leeds board were willing to spend on Derby Country striker Matej Vydra has been set aside for another proven goalscorer.
It is said the club are making enquiries with Premier League clubs over permanent centre-forwards after privately ruling out deals for Aston Villa’s Jonathan Kodjia and Middlesbrough’s Britt Assombalonga.
Those two players would certainly be massive upgrades on the strikers available to Bielsa – Kemar Roofe, Tyler Roberts and Caleb Ekuban, not to mention 2017-18 loanee Pierre-Michel Lasogga.
But Leeds appear to have set their sights on even more penetrative front men, with the calibre and pedigree to destroy Championship defences.
Spending around £11million on a front man would be a huge statement of intent from the board following only occasional glimpses of ambition during the 14 months of Andrea Radrizzani’s reign.
Leeds’ record signing since their descent into the lower leagues began in 2004 has been the £4million spent in January on Adam Forshaw.
Tripling that would show Radrizzani means business and is willing to put his money where his mouth is.