Leeds should revisit deal for £18m player they missed out on last summer if they get promoted - opinion
05/05/2024 18:45
Here, TBR take a look at an £18m player Leeds United should consider signing this summer if they gain promotion to the Premier League.
It’s been a rocky last few weeks for Leeds United as their form has completely curtailed so much so that they will now be preparing for the Championship playoffs.
The Whites have won one of their last six games and have seen Ipswich Town and Leicester City automatically promoted in favour of them.
Much of their woes have stemmed from poor defending but also in attack, as they continue to lack a real potent number nine.
Joel Piroe, who arrived in a £12m deal last summer, hasn’t really lived up to expectations and so it’s become apparent, that Leeds need a new striker in the fast-approaching window.
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Leeds United should revisit deal for Sheffield United striker Cameron Archer
Leeds were after Cameron Archer last summer before missing out on his signature to Premier League newcomers Sheffield United, who signed him from Aston Villa for a reported fee worth £18m.
The England under-21 international has scored four goals in a struggling Blades side this term that have ultimately suffered relegation back to the Championship.
That could put Leeds in pole position if they reignite their interest especially if they were to gain promotion to the top flight via the play-offs.
Archer would fit Daniel Farke‘s system like a glove as he is of a similar profile to Teemu Pukki, who was a prolific goalscorer under the German’s stewardship.
Further, aged just 22, he has plenty of time to develop and polish his skillset, so Leeds would be getting a striker with a much higher ceiling than their current options.
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The cost of Cameron Archer
Given Sheffield United outlaid £18m on his signature, they’d likely want to recoup much of that fee if not all.
So with that said, the feasibility of signing Archer would very much depend on what division Leeds end up in.
With a playoff semi-final against Norwich City looming, pressure is on Farke’s men to deliver the objective of making an instant return to the top flight.
Otherwise, they’ll miss out on a number of targets this summer.
