Leeds United had reportedly wanted to sign West Ham United forward Ashley Fletcher in January.
West Ham United forward Diafra Sakho’s injury could damage Leeds United’s hopes of signing Ashley Fletcher in January.
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic has confirmed that Sakho has been ruled out for eight weeks with injury, meaning his options up-front are short.
Leeds had hopes that Fletcher would sign – either on loan or on a permanent transfer in January (The Sun).
However, Leeds’ chances of signing the former Manchester United man will surely have been dented by Sakho’s injury, given West Ham’s lack of options up-front.
Bilic realises that he cannot rely on the injury prone Andy Carroll, and the likes of Jonathan Calleri and Simone Zaza have not shown anywhere near enough quality to lead the line for the Hammers.
It means that Fletcher could still be required to play a role for West Ham’s first-team, even though Bilic is looking to add a new front-man in January.
Fletcher has played 13 goals for the Hammers so far this campaign, scoring once.
If Leeds now cannot sign Fletcher, it may force them to move for Middlebsrough striker David Nugent, who they have also been linked with recently (The Sun).
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