Leeds must not reignite Ashley Fletcher interest this summer

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Leeds United have been linked with Ashley Fletcher during the last two transfer windows, but the Whites should not go back in this summer.

With Pierre-Michel Lasogga only at Leeds on loan and none of the Whites’ other strikers showing the kind of form that suggest that they would be capable of regularly leading the line for a promotion-winning side, strengthening the club’s goalscoring options looks set to be a key task for Paul Heckingbottom and Victor Orta during the summer.

Given Leeds’ previous interest in the player and the fact that Heckingbottom worked with him at Barnsley, it may not be that great a surprise if Ashley Fletcher was a name that cropped up in conversation in the coming months.

The Sun reported last summer that Leeds were amongst the teams that were keen on the forward, while the same publication (print edition; 21st January 2018; page 68) suggested that he was also on their radar in the recent January transfer window.

On both occasions, he would head elsewhere. He moved to Middlesbrough from West Ham for £6.5 million in the summer, according to BBC Sport, and joined Sunderland on loan in January.

The fact that the 22-year-old has struggled for game-time at the Riverside Stadium may just drop a hint that he may be available at the end of the season, but Leeds must avoid any temptation to reignite their interest.

Fletcher has scored two goals in 24 games all competitions this season, and is still awaiting his first goal for the Black Cats, who have put a huge amount of faith in him given their lack of striker options as they look to beat the drop in the Championship.

His spell working with Heckingbottom at Oakwell remains the most prolific stint of his career, with eight goals coming in 27 games, including four goals in 20 league matches.

Leeds going back in for the forward may not seem a bad idea if Heckingbottom is confident that he can get the best out of the forward, but given that Boro paid £6.5 million less than a year ago, it seems highly possible that their Championship rivals will want to make most of their money back – and that would make a pursuit a huge gamble when they already have a number of strikers and need a marquee option to take them to that next level.