Leeds United’s Chris Wood has been linked with moves to West Ham United and Sunderland.
Leeds United’s Chris Wood has emerged as a target for Premier League sides Sunderland and West Ham United, according to ESPN.
Though the Whites are unlikely to cash in on their prized asset with promotion firmly in sight, here are five players they could replace him with – and still have change left over.
Jordan Rhodes
The obvious choice. Patrick Bamford’s imminent arrival at Middlesbrough has moved Rhodes even further down the pecking order and a move to the Championship seems the most likely outcome. Boro’s reported £12 million asking price looks a deterrent for most, however, although Wood’s sale could put Leeds at the front of the queue for the Scotland international, who has scored 91 goals in 189 Championship games.
Lewis Grabban
Linked with Leeds in each of the past two transfer windows, Grabban is also out of favour at his Premier League employers, Bournemouth. The Cherries paid a reported £7 million for the former Norwich City man a year ago and with only 16 appearances to his name – and not a single goal – since, he is unlikely to have increased in value. Having scored 35 goals in 90 Championship appearances, however, Grabban could be worth the investment.
Britt Assombalonga
Though injury may have hindered Assombalonga’s progress this season, the Nottingham Forest striker boasts the second best minutes-per-goal ratio of any player to have appeared on more than 10 occasions in this season’s Championship, after Newcastle’s Dwight Gayle. Forest’s off-field problems could lead to further sales, with the Congolese among those likely to be snapped up.
Nahki Wells
Out-of-contract in 18 months’ time, it has been reported that Wells could be on his way out of Huddersfield Town, with a fee of around £8 million required. Though that may seem steep for a player who has scored only seven league goals this season (42 in 126 Championship appearances overall), it could be worth Leeds’ while to weaken a promotion rival.
Borja Baston
Swansea paid a reported £15 million for former Atletico Madrid target man last summer, but are ready to let him leave on loan according to the Sunday People, with fellow Spaniard Fernando Llorente outshining him so far. Baston scored 18 goals while on loan to La Liga outfit Eibar last season and is perhaps the most like-for-like Wood replacement in terms of physique. Brighton are said to be keen – which could act as the carrot on a stick for Leeds.
Would you want any of the above at Elland Road?
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