Leeds United are desperate to keep Roofe at Elland Road but will he be tempted by Premier League football at Aston Villa?
Aston Villa are leading the chase to sign Leeds United striker Kemar Roofe this summer, according to the Daily Star.
A £3 million signing from Oxford United in 2016, Roofe finally came of age under Marcelo Bielsa last season and scored 15 goals in all competitions – the best tally of his three-year Leeds career.
One of those was a 95th minute winner at Villa Park in December, the one-time West Brom youngster popping up in stoppage time to seal a dramatic comeback victory for The Whites two days before Christmas.
Aston Villa had the last laugh, however, sealing a return to the Premier League after Leeds fell apart in the play-offs.
And the Star claims that Dean Smith’s side are now ‘leading the chase’ to snap up Leeds’ top scorer, who is out of contract in 13 months.
Leeds are desperate to tie the 26-year-old down to a new deal and he is expected to be offered a substantial pay rise more in line with fellow striker Patrick Bamford, who currently earns three-times more than Roofe.
Interestingly, Smith was left furious when Roofe defeated his Aston Villa side at the death six months ago, showing those predatory instincts which have become his trademark.
“It is my first ever defeat at Villa Park and I don’t want another one too soon after, either,” the former Brentford boss told the Birmingham Mail.
“From the celebrations, I thought they’d won the title. They’re certainly the best team we’ve played this season (but I) still don’t feel they deserved to win.”
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