Leeds United have enjoyed a strong start to the 2026/27 campaign after recording successive victories against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.
After beating them 1-0 in the Premier League last weekend, Daniel Farke‘s side then secured a 2-0 win against Oliver Glasner’s men in the League Cup on Tuesday night.
New signings James Trafford and Tarik Muharemovic have already contributed to two clean sheets in their first two matches as part of the defence, and look to be strong additions to the squad.
However, the 2-0 win over the Tricky Trees in the League Cup did expose the club’s need to do more business before the end of the transfer window.
How the Leeds win over Forest proved a new forward is needed
Lukas Nmecha was selected to lead the line for the Whites in the game at the City Ground, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin rested, and he did not do enough to suggest that he is going to challenge the England international any time soon.
The former Germany international played the first 83 minutes of the match and failed to get on the scoresheet, after being an unused substitute against Forest in the Premier League last weekend.
Nmecha came off the pitch with two ‘big chances’ missed, zero shots on target, and five of his six aerial duels lost, as he struggled technically and physically against Premier League level defenders.
|
Vs Nottingham Forest (LC) |
Lukas Nmecha |
|---|---|
|
Minutes |
83 |
|
Goals + assists |
0 |
|
Shots |
3 |
|
Big chances missed |
2 |
|
Shots on target |
0 |
|
Aerial duels won |
1/6 |
|
Pass accuracy |
76% |
His struggles against the Tricky Trees came after he ended last season with a return of four non-penalty goals in 31 appearances in the Premier League, whilst underperforming his xG of 7.23 with six goals including penalties.
Therefore, a new striker is needed before the deadline to sit between Calvert-Lewin and Nmecha in the pecking order, to ensure that there is genuine competition for places in the squad.
Leeds make approach for their own Viktor Gyokeres
The club once made contact to sign Viktor Gyokeres, who won the Premier League with Arsenal last term, whilst he was at Coventry, and they are now looking at a player who could finally be their own version of the Swedish powerhouse.
According to the print edition of German outlet BILD, Leeds United are pursuing a deal to sign RB Leipzig centre-forward Conrad Harder before the end of the summer transfer window.
The report claims that the 49ers have made contact with the Bundesliga outfit to hold talks about a potential move to bring the Danish attacker in on loan before the deadline.
It adds that Galatasaray and Lazio have also made contact to enquire about a loan, and that Leipzig are open to the idea if the right proposal comes their way.
Years after they failed to land Gyokeres from Coventry, Leeds could finally secure their own version of the Arsenal star by winning the race for Harder in the coming days.
Como scout Ben Mattinson once claimed that the striker is “very similar” to Gyokeres, which is why Sporting signed him as a back-up potential replacement for him in 2024.
|
25/26 Bundesliga |
Conrad Harder |
|---|---|
|
Appearances |
29 |
|
Starts |
8 |
|
Goals |
3 |
|
Big chances created |
4 |
|
Assists |
3 |
|
Ground duel success rate |
34% |
|
Aerial duel success rate |
39% |
Harder joined Leipzig in 2025, though, and enjoyed a solid first season in the Bundesliga, given his lack of minutes, with three goals and three assists in eight starts in the Bundesliga.
Prior to making the move to Germany, the 21-year-old attacker played as a back-up to Gyokeres in the 2025/26 campaign with Sporting in Portugal, and caught the eye as an impact substitute.
The Danish powerhouse ended that season with a return of five goals from 3.00 xG and five assists from six ‘big chances’ created, despite starting six of his 28 appearances in the Liga Portugal.
He was signed to be a similar profile to Gyokeres in the number nine position and that is exactly what he proved to be, earning comparisons to the Sweden international because of his powerful performances.
He has yet to have the chance to play week-in-week-out as a first-choice option, but that is not what Leeds need in this moment in time after Calvert-Lewin scored 14 goals in the Premier League last season.
The Whites need a player who can be impactful off the bench and deal with the physicality of the division, and Harder’s Gyokeres-esque attributes suggest that he has the potential to be that player.
That is why the club should push to win the race for the striker’s signature before the end of the deadline, as he could be Farke’s own version of Gyokeres as a competitor for Calvert-Lewin’s spot.
