OPINION
Leeds United must launch an ambitious swoop to sign Dominic Solanke on loan from Liverpool after talks for yet another one of their striker targets reportedly hit the skids.
According to Turkish Football, the Whites have been in talks with Kasimpasa forward Mbaye Diagne, however they would more than likely have to wait until January to sign him as he applies for an Italian passport in order to gain a UK work permit.
And the Senegalese powerhouse is not the only striker that Leeds have failed to sign this summer.
The Yorkshire Evening Post has reported that interest in Derby’s Matej Vydra and free agent Abel Hernandez are cooling due to their huge wage demands – so it is about time that Marcelo Bielsa and director of football Victor Orta finally nip this striker issue in the bud.
It would certainly be audacious, but a move for Solanke would surely be in the best interest of all parties involved.
The 20-year-old England international has struggled to get himself regular first team football in his debut year at Liverpool and there is always a chance that Jurgen Klopp would allow him to leave on a temporary basis, earn invaluable experience in the Championship and then return to Anfield a better player.
The £25,000-a-week player (Spotrac) scored just one goal in 27 appearances across all competitions last season and while most of those were off the bench, the former Chelsea forward would certainly be able to flourish in the Championship.
Leeds need a new centre-forward soon, otherwise they could be forced into panic-buying like they did last summer when they ended up with Pierre-Michel Lasogga on deadline day.
If Orta has truly learned from his mistakes he must go in for Solanke as soon as possible because there is a good chance that other clubs are looking into sign the Liverpool youngster.