Rio Ferdinand mocks player who Leeds United are in talks with, he can’t understand why he’s in demand

Leeds United is still looking for a striker, and many of the options being floated along with a move to Elland Road aren’t particularly exciting so far.

Joel Piroe and Lukas Nmecha are Leeds United’s only true first-team forward options going into the new campaign. Daniel Farke still has youngster Harry Gray to call upon and Patrick Bamford, though Bamford has been told he can leave Leeds United, having not appeared at all in pre-season.

Several strikers have already been linked to a move to Leeds United this summer. However, it appears that Farke may have to search the free agent market for a quick find while spending a lot of money on one other, marquee striker as the deadline of September 1st draws near.

Leeds United remain interested in signing Rodrigo Muniz from Fulham in what could be a club record transfer at Elland Road, whilst Roma’s Artem Dovbyk continues to be linked with Leeds United as well.

In the meantime, Leeds United could sign Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Rio Ferdinand critical of Leeds United transfer target Dominic Calvert-Lewin

Leeds United have been linked with Calvert-Lewin throughout the summer, and ahead of the new season starting this weekend, reports regarding Calvert-Lewin’s next move have really ramped up. It is understood that Leeds have held talks to sign the former Everton striker, with Calvert-Lewin having sacked his agent as he searches for a new club.

Manchester United is another team that has been brought up with Calvert-Lewin for a while. Rio Ferdinand, a former Leeds and Manchester United defender, is unimpressed with the prospect of the 28-year-old Calvert-Lewin joining Old Trafford this summer. Rio Ferdinand mocked the notion of Calvert-Lewin joining Manchester United in an interview on his YouTube show, Rio Ferdinand Presents.

“Dominic Calvert-Lewin, what are you talking about?” he asked. Keeping fit is a challenge for Dominic Calvert-Lewin. You’re taking him into this club, but why? The academy is the foundation of this club. Chido Obi is just sitting there with you. If you’re going to consider five or six games, play him. Not an elderly person who is unable to maintain their fitness.

Rio Ferdinand is right, but is there anyone else Leeds United can sign at this time?

 

Calvert-Lewin used to be one of the Premier League’s most productive strikers, but as Ferdinand claims, he just can’t stay healthy. It would be a costly gamble for whoever bought Calvert-Lewin this summer because he has missed 83 games in the last four seasons and was earning an incredible quantity of money at Everton.

However, Leeds United has other choices. Transfer expert Graeme Bailey recently identified the four strikers Leeds United is currently considering in an interview with Leeds United News. Calvert-Lewin, Josh Sargent of Norwich City, Mehdi Taremi of Inter Milan, and Muniz are among them.

Season	Days missed through injury	Games missed through injury
24/25	110 days	15
23/24	51 days	6
22/23	223 days	29
21/22	145 days	33

“Rodrigo Muniz continues to be Leeds’ first choice center-forward, but Mehdi Taremi and Josh Sargent are also options being discussed internally,” Bailey stated. But they are also still quite interested in Calvert-Lewin. He fits the profile perfectly.

Additionally, it was recently disclosed that Michael Antonio had visited Leeds United’s training facility, but it is believed that this was done solely to advertise his most recent sports supplement company.

However, Antonio said that after being cut go by West Ham this summer, he is currently in negotiations with other clubs. It’s still unclear who Leeds United will finally add to their attack, but it must happen quickly.

 

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