Why Leeds want to sign £30m attacker

After securing promotion back to the Premier League last year, Leeds United had to rely upon shrewd additions to beat the drop and avoid an immediate return to the second tier.

Only £90m was spent by the hierarchy on a flurry of additions, with the likes of Anton Stach, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Jaka Bijol all arriving at Elland Road.

However, Daniel Farke has stated the need for quality over quantity this summer to try and make the Whites an established top-division outfit and push for a European spot.

Harry Wilson and Tarik Muharemović have both already arrived in Yorkshire this window, with the supporters hoping the duo can have a similar impact to a certain Noah Okafor.

How Okafor compared to other forwards in the Premier League in 2025/26

As part of last summer’s impressive recruitment drive at Elland Road, Leeds completed the £17m signing of attacker Okafor from Serie A giants Napoli.

The Switzerland international was an unknown quantity to many supporters, but he quickly captured their hearts in Yorkshire after his impressive displays in the Premier League.

He ended his debut campaign with eight goals and one assist in England’s top-flight, but how did he compare to other players in his position throughout 2025/26?

Okafor’s tally of eight goals no doubt helped the Whites fend off any relegation threat, and his average of 0.46 goals per 90 ranked him in the top 5% of forwards.

The 26-year-old operated in various attacking roles, which allowed him to complete a staggering 2.2 successful dribbles per 90 – placing him above 87% of attackers in the Premier League.

His talent in possession was what saw him adhere himself to the fanbase, with his long ball accuracy rate of 79% just one of the most impressive aspects to his game.

Such a figure placed him above 95% of attackers in the division, with the Swiss international a player who proved to be worth every penny after his transfer last summer.

Leeds could sign their new Okafor this summer

Despite his immediate impact at Elland Road last year, Okafor may struggle to maintain his starting role within Farke’s side during the 2026/27 campaign.

Wilson’s arrival has already seen a proven Premier League option link up with the Whites, but the hierarchy don’t appear to be done with additions in the final third.

The 49ers have stepped up their efforts on a number of transfer targets over recent weeks, which has seen Bodo/Glimt attacker Jens Petter Hauge emerge on their shortlist.

It’s been reported by TEAMtalk in recent days that Farke’s side have been assessing his profile and are considering a move for the 26-year-old forward this window.

The report states that Everton and Sunderland are also willing to test the resolve of the Norwegian side, who are said to demand £30m to offload the attacker.

Whilst such a fee may appear to be an expensive one for the Whites, a deal for the Norwegian international could prove to be a phenomenal one this window.

Hauge netted six times in his 12 appearances in the Champions League last campaign – subsequently finding the back of the net against Manchester City and Inter Milan.

His top-level European experience would be perfect for Farke’s men, as he has the ability to provide the goods and allow the club to compete for a top-seven spot in England’s top-flight.

The 26-year-old’s underlying stats also highlight his superb quality within attacking areas – with many of his figures higher than Okafor despite featuring against higher quality opposition.

He managed to complete more successful take-ons per 90 and created over two times more chances per 90 – with his tally of 2.5 for the latter ranking him above 90% of players in the UCL.

Hauge’s higher tally of crosses completed showcases his ability to add the end product to his mazy runs – leading to talent scout Jacek Kulig dubbing him as “incredible.”

Farke’s system also demands his players to work tirelessly without the ball, something which the Bodo/Glimt attacker is more than capable of doing at Elland Road.

He ranked in the top 20% for tackles made by forwards in the Champions League last term, whilst also coming out on top of over three times more duels per 90 than Okafor.

His lack of experience in the Premier League may be a concern for the supporters, but Hauge is a player who is more than capable of thriving in such a division given his exploits in Europe.

Okafor losing his place may be a harsh decision given his impact last season, but a deal for the Norwegian could see the hierarchy land the quality over quantity they’re hunting for this summer.