Leeds United have sent a formal message to Carpi stating that they will not be pursuing a move for striker Jerry Mbakogu after agreeing a transfer clause earlier in the year, according to reliable journalist Phil Hay.
The Yorkshire Evening Post reporter claims on his personal Twitter account that the Whites have made contact with the second tier Italian club to inform them that there will be no move for the 25-year-old forward, who hit eight goals for his side last season.
To end the Jerry Mbakogu rumours – hearing that Leeds have formally written to Carpi to say they won't be exercising the option to sign him. That deal is dead. #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHayYEP) July 3, 2018
It is stated that Leeds had agreed an option with the Serie B outfit to snap up the Nigerian born attacker, but that deal will no longer go ahead.
Opinion
There will be many fans at Elland Road who are breathing a sigh of relief over this one, as Mbakogu simply looked like Leeds were repeating the mistakes of 12 months ago. The likes of Jay-Roy Grot, Pawel Cibicki and Caleb Ekuban were all brought in with hopes of forming a deadly attack but in reality they all lacked the cutting edge to pose a potent threat, and it left the Whites floundering in the mid-table of the Championship. Eight goals for a side sitting in Italy’s second division is hardly an inspiring record and it is no wonder the board at the club have chosen to pull out of that move – which could well have ended in disaster. It saves a couple of pennies for Marcelo Bielsa to invest elsewhere and every little bit of budget is crucial as the Argentinian boss plans to take the Championship by the horns.