Reports from Italy suggest that Leeds United recently made a €15m bid for Italian striker Andrea Petagna. The 24-year-old currently plies his trade in the Serie A for SPAL who signed him permanently this summer after a successful loan spell. However, reports from Leeds Live rebuff those reports from Italy as being way off the mark as United are unlikely to spend that kind of money in this window after the signing of Helder Costa.
Petagna also drew attention from English club Leicester City. The striker scored 16 goals last season for SPAL which kept them up in the Italian top flight. SPAL then went on to trigger the €12m clause to make the transfer permanent this summer.
Why Leeds United need a striker?
One of the primary reasons why the Whites struggled last season in their bid to clinch promotion was because of their inability to finish off moves. They dominated their opponents but failed to find the back of the net. Kemar Roofe led the line well in the first half of the season, but after his injury, he wasn’t able to influence much. Patrick Bamford also had an underwhelming first campaign at Elland Road. Both of them seems unlikely to score 20-25 goals, which is often necessary to move up a division.
Moreover, Roofe is currently out for a month because of an injury. Even before the season has started, Bielsa is going to have limited options upfront. Therefore we think that the club should be on the lookout for a standout striker who would push them towards promotion.
Will Petagna be a good bet?
The 24-year-old is a one time Italian international, and there is no doubt that he would be an ambitious signing for the Whites. Petagna is a traditional target man who can hold up play well and is a live wire in and around the box.
A signing like Petagna wouldn’t exactly be suited for the Bielsa system, but he would provide the club with something of a plan B. The Whites were often too predictable in their playing style, and they used to overdo their build-up play. Someone like Petagna would allow them to play in a more direct style with quick and mobile forward like Kemar Roofe making runs off him. The Italian could be a decent signing for the Whites but only if used in the right way.
However, as things stand, the current reports are said to be wide off the mark, and we think that Leeds United are unlikely to spend €15m in the rest of the transfer window.
