Leeds must make Lasogga priority over Mbakogu

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Leeds United are reportedly planning to make a move to sign Jerry Mbakogu during the summer.

With just six goals in 19 Serie B games this term, Leeds’ reported interest in Carpi striker Jerry Mbakogu may make little sense to many of the Elland Road faithful.

The Daily Mail recently reported that the Whites are plotting a summer move for the forward having planned a £3.5 million pursuit during the January transfer window.

Given the kind of money that Leeds have spent over the last few years, a £3.5 million deal – if the fee ended up being the same amount that they were supposedly willing to pay previously – would be a significant statement from the Whites regarding how highly they rate Mbakogu. And yet, based on his record in the Italian second tier, it is not abundantly clear why Leeds would want to make the 25-year-old one of their most expensive signings since their relegation from the top flight.

Therefore, Leeds should arguably shelve plans to move for the Nigerian until after they have attempted to pull off a deal that would see Pierre-Michel Lasogga return to Elland Road on a permanent basis.

Lasogga has enjoyed a mixed time on loan with the Whites, but has proved to be a decent goalscorer so far. And after a difficult time winning the fans over, his work-rate appears to have now reached a level where he is emerging from games that Leeds have lost with his reputation enhanced.

With Hamburg paying the majority of Lasogga’s £50,000 a week wages during this season, Leeds would probably need the striker and his parent club to meet them well past halfway if they hoped to pull off a permanent deal, especially if they miss out on promotion this season.

But Lasogga is a striker who is six goals away from beating Chris Wood’s league tally from his first season at Leeds having so far played 17 games less than the New Zealand international ultimately did that campaign. And like Lasogga, Wood was not given an easy ride at times by the supporters when they expected more – but he went on to do quite well.

The German looks as though he is really finding his feet at Leeds after a mixed spell thus far. And if he maintains his current form until the end of the campaign, Leeds would arguably be foolish to jump into a deal that would perhaps see them spend around £3.5 million on Mbakogu without seeing whether keeping Lasogga is a genuine option first.