Leeds United may have to pay a club record fee upwards of £30 million if they want to snatch Red Bull Salzburg forward Noah Okafor from under the noses of AC Milan and Premier League rivals Arsenal, according to Calciomercato.
Such a fee would see the Switzerland international replace silky American playmaker Brenden Aaronson as the most expensive footballer in Leeds’ history. Then again, if the summer taught us anything, it’s that the men from West Yorkshire are willing to put their money where their mouth is when the opportunity arises.
Leeds, Club Brugge CEO Vincent Mannaert explains, were happy to invest £35 million in Charles de Ketelaere. They also put forward a package worth £43 million for PSV talisman Cody Gakpo.
Rumours of a £30 million fee for Okafor, then, will not necessarily have Andrea Radrizzani running for the hills, especially with a lack of depth in forward positions threatening to undermine Jesse Marsch’s hopes of building on Saturday’s dramatic last-ditch win at Liverpool.
Leeds United and Arsenal like Red Bull Salzburg forward Noah Okafor
Per Calciomercato, Milan and Arsenal are also keen on the versatile forward, who scored three of his nine goals this season in the Champions League group-stages.
“(Milan) are a very strong team. We are talking about a great club, with a legendary history,” 22-year-old Okafor said recently, before admitting that he is keeping his options open.
“Whether it is England, Spain, Italy or Germany, each league has a particular charm. The same goes for individual clubs. When there is something concrete (in terms of interest) we will evaluate all together; analysing the various factors.”
Okafor, quick, skilful and adaptable enough to play out wide or through the middle, is one of a number of exciting young forwards linked with an Arsenal side looking to ease the burden on Bukayo Saka’s shoulders (The Standard).
Shakhtar Donetsk’s deputy vice chairman confirmed the Gunners interest in £85 million-rated Ukraine international Mykhaylo Mudryk. Orlando City’s Facundo Torres, meanwhile, is set to be discussed this week.
‘The next step is extremely important’
“I was his coach at FC Basel in the U18s,” Swiss legend Alexander Frei adds of Okafor. “Back then, there weren’t many people who bet on Noah despite his talent. He had too much nonsense in his head, didn’t understand what football demands.
“I talked to him a lot and explained to him: ‘You decide where your journey goes. Do what I tell you; how to behave as a young player, how to train, how to prepare and how to eat. Then, you’re going to have a great career.
“’Otherwise, you’ll be constantly injured and end up playing in Swiss second tier.’ Noah understood and implemented (my ideas). The next step is extremely important. Noah needs to choose a club that suits his style of play.”
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