Leeds set sights on £42m forward as Farke personally drives January move

Leeds can pile more misery on Sunderland this Sunday, but Daniel Farke has an attacking headache of his own.

The Whites visit the Stadium of Light sitting within touching distance of the top five, and their hosts are bottom after losing four league games on the spin.

Reuters/Paul Childs

That should have Leeds smelling blood, but there is a catch to that.

Farke’s men have also gone three league matches without a victory themselves, most recently drawing 1-1 with Man United.

Thursday’s European draw with Lech Poznan has given Sunderland less preparation time, and suspended defender Kevin Danso is unavailable.

Leeds will surely fancy testing that depleted back line and giving Sunderland’s supporters another nervy afternoon to sit through.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s fitness is another concern, as a bruised foot has left the striker doubtful, while Anton Stach and Noah Okafor are also struggling after picking up problems against United.

Lukas Nmecha could get his chance if Calvert-Lewin misses out. For Farke, the uncertainty is an awkward reminder of why another striker would come in handy.

January cannot come quickly enough when your attacking options start disappearing, and Leeds are already looking ahead, with Nicolo Tresoldi a name worth watching.

Leeds eye Nicolo Tresoldi swoop as Farke pushes for January firepower

REUTERS/Daniele Mascolo

Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke reports that the Club Brugge forward features strongly in Leeds’ recruitment planning, with the club considering a move as Farke presses for another centre-forward this winter.

Their scouts have had plenty to chew over.

Tresoldi announced himself in style at San Siro earlier this month, scoring a hat-trick as Brugge beat Inter Milan 4-3 in the Champions League, and that sort of performance has made people take more notice of the forward who bagged 22 goals in all competitions last season.

It also makes a striker much harder to buy.

Brugge have little appetite for selling Tresoldi in January. They want him around for the rest of the campaign, leaving next summer as a more realistic opening.

That is the snag for Leeds. Farke wants help now, while the Belgian club have every reason to protect their own season.

Tresoldi only arrived from Hannover in 2025 and signed until 2029. Brugge are under no immediate pressure from his contract, which gives them a strong hand if interested clubs come knocking, with a £42m price tag already mooted.

Former Hannover coach Lars Fuchs has praised his ability to link play, finish with either foot and work hard without the ball. At 22, Tresoldi would give Farke a “top” striker with plenty of good years still ahead.

But Farke’s immediate need cannot be put on hold just because an exciting name catches the eye.

Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith

Calvert-Lewin remains his first pick through the middle, but adding genuine competition would give the manager more freedom to rotate, change a game from the bench and avoid placing so much weight on one player’s availability.

Leeds would need a clear pitch to the player, too. Tresoldi is already getting Champions League football in Belgium, so the chance to play regularly would surely matter alongside any attractive financial offer they could put together.

The sensible play is to keep following him while making sure other options remain alive. Waiting until summer might suit Brugge, but it would do nothing for Farke if he needs another body in January.