Leeds United will surely be planning for a transformative summer transfer window after their struggles in the Premier League this season, and a new update has emerged on one potential target.
What's the latest on Moussa Dembele to Leeds?
According to reports coming out of Spain, Leeds are interested in snapping up the services of Lyon striker Moussa Dembele.
As per the report, the Whites could reignite their interest in the 26-year-old this summer amid Patrick Bamford's poor form (just one top-flight goal all season), and a move to the Premier League has been claimed as a viable option for the player.
Could Dembele form a partnership with Georginio Rutter?
Newly-appointed manager Javi Gracia is just getting his feet under the table at Elland Road after being announced this week as the man who will endeavour to lead the West Yorkshire club out of trouble over the rest of the season.
Leeds are currently 19th in the Premier League following a run of poor performances which have left them without a top-flight victory since the beginning of November, and Gracia's previous experience of the division will be the club's last hope at survival over the remaining 15 league fixtures.
The former Watford boss is renowned for his successful transformation at Vicarage Road, where his narrow 4-2-2-2 formation turned the relegation contenders into a comfortably competing well-oiled attacking machine, which ultimately led to the Hornets' highest-ever Premier League placement (11th) in 2018/19, their best league finish for a generation.
If Gracia manages to retain Leeds' top-flight status for 2023/24, signing Dembele could be the perfect move to create a formidable strike partnership with January signing Georginio Rutter in order to align with his aforementioned formation of playing two strikers.
Whilst the 20-year-old has yet to score in five appearances for his new club, a return of eight Bundesliga goals last season illustrates that he can be very effective in a major European league.
In 329 senior career appearances so far, Dembele - who has been dubbed "powerful" by his former Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers - has scored 140 goals and registered 46 assists, with a goal contribution every 111 minutes, and such a return would be hugely valuable to Leeds next season.
Furthermore, the 26-year-old ranks in the top 8% of his positional peers across the big five European leagues over the last 12 months for non-penalty goals and total shots, also ranking in the top 15% for touches in the attacking penalty area.
Combining Dembele's wealth of experience with Rutter's youthful presence and untapped potential could be deadly for Leeds' opponents if the former comes to Yorkshire and the duo can strike up an effective partnership at Elland Road next season.