Latest reports from Italian media outlet BlogSicilia indicates that Serie B outfit Palermo are interested in signing Leeds United’s striker Kemar Roofe. The English forward is enjoying a great season with the Whites under Marcelo Bielsa, and they are currently well placed to move to the Premier League.
Palermo too are currently one of the favourites to move to the Italian top division as they sit on top of the Serie B table. However, we highly doubt that Kemar Roofe would be too keen to move to Italy given the fact that he is doing so well in his homeland at the moment.
The striker has even drawn interest (Birmingham Mail) from Premier League outfits like Wolves and Crystal Palace, and that should be more worrying for Bielsa.
The striker has already scored 8 times in 14 Championship games and a lot rest on his shoulders this season. Bielsa brought in former Championship player of the season Patrick Bamford, and it was expected that there would be a close fight for a place in the starting eleven. But when Bamford was fit, Bielsa continued to prefer Roofe as the man up top, and the 25-year-old continued to deliver results for the Whites.
Traditionally a winger, Roofe has thrived under Bielsa and he often works extremely hard even though he starts up top. The Englishman presses from the top as Bielsa believes in the philosophy of the striker being the first line of defence and the Englishman usually works his socks off. To go with that, he is often on the move and is found everywhere in the attacking third to exploit space and United look a better team when he is on the pitch.
Bielsa in no way should listen to any offers for the striker in the near future. The English forward should also look to stay put, but it would be foolish to assume that Premier League clubs won’t turn his head. However, the way things are going, United look on course for a promotion to the English top flight so the player should probably continue his development at Elland Road for now.
Roofe’s absence was felt when the forward missed close to a month of action due to an injury, and there is no doubt that the club shouldn’t listen to any offer. Phil Hay of Yorkshire Evening Post recently revealed that a new contract could be on the cards for the striker in January as his contract would expire in 2020.
Given that he has become such an integral member currently, we expect a pay rise for the 25-year-old after his performances this season. As for Palermo prising him away, we don’t see them being able to pull this signing off especially when the Whites are in such a good place at the moment as a club. However, we are of the opinion that Leeds need to offer a substantial pay raise ASAP to ensure that Roofe does not go into the January transfer window with the same pay he has currently.
