Championship giants Leeds United want a striker and may choose between Peterborough United hotshot Jack Marriott and Carpi hitman Jerry Mbakogu
Victor Orta’s reputation is so low at Leeds United right now that any player linked with a move to Elland Road appears to be viewed with suspicion.
But it is easy to see why the Leeds fans aren’t too convinced by the prospect of signing a striker from the Italian second division for £4.4 million this summer.
Leeds have been heavily linked with a move for Carpi striker Jerry Mbakogu of late with The Mail claiming in February that an offer is likely to be made in the summer. And the Elland Road faithful have made it very clear that they don’t want another imported, unknown striker in West Yorkshire with Jay-Roy Grot, Pawel Cibicki and Caleb Ekuban struggling for goals this season.
Mbokogu has never hit double figures in a season – and has just six for Carpi in 2017/18.
For context, that is 26 fewer goals than Jack Marriott has for Peterborough United this season. And reports in The Mail that he is valued at around £5 million, amid interest from Leeds, Nottingham Forest and Sheffield Wednesday, should make The Whites’ summer priority obvious.
Marriott will cost half a million more than Mbakogu – but has proven himself as one of the most prolific and promising strikers in the Football League since he joined Peterborough from Luton Town last summer and he will only get better.
With Marriott on the market for £5 million, paying around the same fee for Mbakogu wouldn’t go down well with the already frustrated Leeds United fanbase.
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