With deal reportedly agreed, will Leeds reap rewards of Mbakogu risk?

Serie B striker Jerry Mbakogu will seemingly become the latest lesser-known player to arrive at Elland Road since Leeds United appointed Victor Orta.

Victor Orta has made a massive 20 signings since being appointed as Leeds United’s director of football at the beginning of last summer.

In truth, however, Samu Saiz - currently banned for spitting at Newport County’s Robbie Wilmott in recent FA Cup defeat - can be classed as the only undisputed success.

The likes of Mateusz Klich and Jay-Roy Grot proved to be huge disappointments while, despite some encouraging displays, the fact is that Caleb Ekuban and Pawel Cibicki have not scored a league goal between them.

So Leeds fans will be understandably wary to learn that the Championship giants have agreed a deal to sign Jerry Mbakogu from Serie B side Carpi for a not insignificant fee of around £3.5 million, according to Gianluca Di Marzio.

Like Klich, Grot, Ekuban and co, Mbakogu will arrive at Elland Road as something of an unknown with fans pawing through YouTube videos and gleaning facts from his Wikipedia page rather than any prior knowledge of the striker’s abilities or track record.

The 25-year-old’s goal-scoring record is far from prolific, having netted just six times in 18 games for Carpi this season after netting twice as the club were relegated from Serie A last season.

This is not the sort of tally that will give Leeds fans reason to be confident in their new centre-forward, particularly as fans were demanding a proven Championship goal-scorer akin to Jordan Hugill or Chris Martin.

For the most part, Orta’s risks have not reaped many rewards so far. Time will tell, however, if  talent spotter will buck the trend with Mbakogu.

The Nigerian looks a good fit to lead the line in Thomas Christiansen's one-striker system due to his mobility and penchant for linking up with attacking midfielders. He will offer a different threat to the static Pierre-Michel Lasogga but Mbakogu must improve his goals output to justify the price-tag.