As soon as promotion to the Premier League was officially confirmed earlier this year, the powers that be at Leeds United knew that they would need to be busy this summer.
The Whites have been fairly quick out of the blocks so far, as they have wrapped up the free transfer signing of Lukas Nmecha and signed Jaka Bijol on a permanent deal from Udinese.
Improving the team’s options at the top end of the pitch is a priority for the Championship champions, and they have already started their efforts to do that by signing Nmecha.
In May, Football Insider claimed that the club have doubts over whether or not Joel Piroe has what it takes to make the step up to the Premier League next season, and that they are not going to build their attack around the Dutchman.
This suggests that the former Swansea star is unlikely to be the first-choice number nine option for Daniel Farke when the new campaign gets underway.
However, the only new centre-forward signing so far has been Nmecha, and he does not appear suited to firing the team to safety as a regular starter next term.
Why Lukas Nmecha may not be a regular starter for Leeds
The Whites have taken a gamble on the former Manchester City academy prospect on a free transfer, after a rough few seasons for the former Germany international.
Since the start of the 2023/24 season, Nmecha has only played 24 games in all competitions for Wolfsburg in Germany, scoring five goals in that time.
24/25 (Wolfsburg)
8
20
3
23/24 (Wolfsburg)
39
4
2
22/23 (Wolfsburg)
17
18
4
21/22 (Wolfsburg)
9
31
10
20/21 (Anderlecht)
0
37
18
19/20 (Wolfsburg + Middlesbrough)
4
25
0
18/19 (Preston North End)
0
41
4
As you can see in the table above, the 26-year-old striker has consistently struggled with injury issues over the past four seasons, missing far too many games and not delivering enough quality on the pitch.
These statistics suggest that Nmecha is unlikely to be available to be a regular starter for Farke, nor does he have the goal return to suggest that he can step up to be a regular goalscorer in the Premier League.
Therefore, the German forward may be more suited to being a squad option, who can come off the bench or start the odd game, rather than being the replacement for Piroe as a regular in the XI.
That thought process is further backed up by a new report that claims that the Championship champions are eyeing up another number nine signing.
Leeds make contact to sign Premier League striker
According to iNews writer Mark Douglas, Leeds United are one of the teams interested in a deal to sign Dominic Calvert-Lewin on a free transfer before the end of the summer transfer window.
The reporter writes that the Whites have already made initial contact with the former England international to discuss a possible move to Elland Road when his contract at Everton expires at the end of this month.
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Douglas adds, however, that his future at Goodison Park is not set in stone as of yet, as the striker wants to remain at the club, but has yet to agree to an extension on Merseyside.
The journalist reveals that West Ham United and Leeds are both looking to take advantage of his potential availability, as they have both picked up the phone to make contact.
However, neither team have progressed anything beyond that at this point, which may suggest that they are waiting for final confirmation on his future at Everton before taking it any further.
Why Leeds should sign Dominic Calvert-Lewin
The Whites should push to win the race for the English striker’s services if he becomes available on a free transfer this summer because the forward would come in as an immediate upgrade on Nmecha at Elland Road.
Calvert-Lewin does not have the best injury record out there, having missed 21 games since the start of the 2023/24 campaign, but Nmecha has been absent for 16 more matches in the same period, suggesting that the Everton man is likely to be more reliable as an option for Farke.
The Toffees marksman has played 38 games or more in five of the last eight seasons. Meanwhile, Nmecha has only played more than 25 times in three of the last eight seasons, and has only featured in more than 37 matches once in his career, in the 2018/19 season with Preston.
As well as potentially being available more often, Calvert-Lewin could also be an upgrade on the German striker because of the proven Premier League quality that he would provide.
The 28-year-old star has been a staple of the English top-flight over the last eight seasons or so, and has proven that he can score goals at that level.
Appearances
239
71
Goals
57
16
Games per goal
4.19
4.44
xG per 90
0.47
0.51
xA
14.85
3.09
Assists
15
0
As you can see in the table above, Calvert-Lewin has scored goals and created goals more regularly than Nmecha has in the Bundesliga, which suggests that he would offer more to Farke’s team in front of goal next season.
As well as his ability in the final third, the Everton forward also provides physicality up front. Just last year, journalist Connor O’Neill claimed that the “sensational” striker “bullied” Liverpool defenders Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate with his physical play.
Calvert-Lewin won 51% of his aerial battles in the 2024/25 campaign, winning 3.3 per match, which further speaks to his ability to hold his own in contests with Premier League centre-backs, something that will be important to the Whites as they battle relegation.
Overall, Leeds should sign the Toffees frontman because he is a known quantity who would give Farke a reliable, proven, top-flight striker as an upgrade on what he already has.
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