Leeds United will host Everton on Monday night as they return to the Premier League for the first time after a two-year absence. Daniel Farke’s side will be looking to get the campaign off to a dream start after a busy summer, where they have made several new additions to their squad.
The Whites have looked to strengthen right across the pitch. They have brought in a new goalkeeper in Lucas Perri, three new defenders, including Jaka Bijol, two midfielders, with one of those Newcastle United academy graduate, Sean Longstaff, and a new centre-forward, Lukas Nmecha, on a free transfer.
However, the Yorkshire side don’t seem to be done there, and are focusing on bringing in more attackers before the window slams shut.
Leeds’ next attacking targets
It was reported on Wednesday that England international Dominic Calvert-Lewin will imminently move to Elland Road on a free transfer. He is set to have a medical after leaving Everton in the summer.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Calvert-Lewin is not the only new attacker who could be on his way to Leeds. According to Beren Cross of The Athletic, they are said to be ‘showing interest’ in signing AC Milan forward Noah Okafor.
There is yet to be an official approach from Leeds for Okafor, according to Cross, but he is a player ‘Leeds are looking at in the final weeks of the window’, and a late move could be on the cards.
It wouldn’t be a deal that breaks the bank, either. Earlier in the window, Milan were reportedly asking for just £13m for the Switzerland international.
Why Okafor would be a good signing
The 2024/25 campaign was not necessarily an easy one for Okafor. He struggled to break into the Milan team, with injuries disrupting his campaign, and a January loan move to eventual Scudetto winners Napoli was even less fruitful for him.
In total, the 25-year-old made just 21 appearances across all competitions, four in a Napoli shirt and the rest for the Rossoneri.
In that time, he bagged just one goal, an opening-day equaliser in the 95th minute against Torino.
Yet, the forward has shown great promise earlier in his career. He played four seasons for RB Salzburg in Austria before moving to Milan. In 110 appearances, he scored 34 goals and assisted 23.
Two of those seasons, 2021/22 and 2022/23, saw him register double-figure goal involvements, and the underlying numbers stand out. For example, he created 2.3 chances and 2.1 chances, respectively. That is why football talent scout Jacek Kulig called him an “electric” attacker.
Goals and assists
1.3
0.7
Shots on target
1.6
1.1
Key passes
2.3
2.1
Dribbles completed
1.6
1.7
Tackles and interceptions
1.2
0.7
If Okafor does move to Elland Road, he could be the second coming of Wilfried Gnonto. The Italian attacker has had a similar career path to Okafor and offers similar versatility to the Swiss forward.
Gnonto’s numbers across his Leeds career are impressive. The 21-year-old has already racked up over a century of appearances for the club, with 118 to his name. In that time, he’s found the back of the net 22 times and assisted 13 further goals.
The pair have certainly followed a relatively similar career path so far. Like Okafor representing Milan, Gnonto has also been on the books of a Serie A giant from the same city, although he played for Inter’s youth sides.
On top of that, they’ve each played in the Swiss top flight, with the potential new Leeds addition representing FC Basel and Gnonto playing for Zurich. Now, their paths could cross at the same time if the Milan attacker joins Leeds.
Aside from their similar career moves, the players are both versatile attackers. They are able to play on both wings, lead the line as a striker or play in behind another centre-forward, as a number ten or a second striker.
Oh, how Leeds fans would surely love to have the second coming of Gnonto at Elland Road. The Whites’ number 29 has been a key player over the years, so if Okafor can rediscover his best form and replicate Gnonto, it would be a huge bonus.