Leeds striker Kemar Roofe is in talks over a late summer move to Anderlecht, according to the Daily Mail.
The report claims the Belgian side – managed by former Man City legend Vincent Kompany – is keen on the 26-year-old who is out of contract next summer.
Leeds have offered him a new deal but he hasn’t signed yet and could agree a pre-contract deal with an overseas club next January and leave for free next summer.
Roofe is currently injured and set to miss the first few games of the new Championship season that kicks off this weekend.
Leeds start their new campaign with a trip to Bristol City on Sunday.
Serious?
It is according to the journalist with possibly the best sources in Leeds. Phil Hay, former journalist with the Yorkshire Evening Post, delivered the bad news to Leeds fans on Friday morning.
He did add that no offer has been made yet but it’s a worrying update from a man who is rarely wrong about this sort of stuff.
Anderlecht interest in Kemar Roofe is serious. No firm offer made yet but they like him and Roofe’s into the last year of his contract at Leeds. #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) August 2, 2019
Would Roofe want a move to Anderlecht? He would be in line for a pretty hefty pay rise, with his salary at Leeds said to be just £10,000-a-week [Football.Scotland].
The one positive for Leeds is that Anderlecht missed out on qualifying for Europe for the first time in 56 years last season – the Europa League would have been a big pull for the Leeds striker.
What would Leeds do?
They would have to replace him. Leeds struggled with goals last season. They scored 20 less than champions Norwich, five less than Sheffield United, 12 less than West Brom in fourth and 11 less than Aston Villa in fifth. Roofe, despite suffering from injuries, was their top scorer with 14 goals in the Championship.
It would leave manager Marcelo Bielsa with just Patrick Bamford as a senior striker and he’s in the doldrums – he hasn’t scored since mid-April.
It would be a huge blow for Leeds if he were to leave and it’s tough to know where they’d find a replacement for £7m. It might have to involve a late loan move.