Leeds striker Kemar Roofe is taking a medical ahead of his imminent move to Anderlecht, according to The Athletic journalist Phil Hay.
Leeds’ top-scorer from last season is heading out of the club and the country, with a three-year deal on the cards.
Roofe is currently injured and didn’t play any part in Leeds’ first Championship game of the season, a 3-1 win over Bristol City on Sunday.
It would leave Patrick Bamford as the club’s only recognised senior striker.
Kemar Roofe's in Belgium for a medical with Anderlecht. Sounds like a three-year deal on the table for him. #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) August 5, 2019
However, Leeds might be looking for a leftfield replacement – literally.
When quizzed by a Leeds fan about getting a replacement in before the summer deadline on Thursday Hay replied, “They want Ryan Kent”.
The left-winger is back at Liverpool after a season-long loan with Rangers and manager Jurgen Klopp wants to move him on a permanent deal [BBC].
they want Ryan Kent
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) August 5, 2019
Winging it
This seems like a risky strategy from Leeds and Marcelo Bielsa. Roofe was the club’s top-scorer last season with 14 goals, despite suffering from injuries that kept him out for 14 games.
Bamford only got nine but only made 22 league appearances after a cruciate ligament injury.
Looking at his stats per 90 minutes in the Championship [wyscout.com], Bamford’s numbers are impressive. He scored 0.51 goals per 90 with an xG of 0.59 indicating that he found himself with a lot of chances to score.
Roofe’s xG was 0.54 and, while a loss, manager Marcelo Bielsa must be looking to find goals from across the team, rather than just his front man.
Bamford is fantastic in the box, as he proved with his header from close range against Bristol City on Sunday. But Bielsa will be just as happy that Jack Harrison got off to a scoring start after only contributing four in 37 games last season.
Kent scored six in 23 Premiership games for Rangers last season and will add another threat to the Leeds side if he joins. He can play as a secondary striker as well.
The only problem – and it’s a big one – is what happens if Bamford is injured? That could leave Leeds in trouble and a safer option for Bielsa would surely be to sign Kent and a striker, even if the latter came in loan. All will become clear in the next few days.