Ex-Leeds United centre-back Alex Bruce has tipped the club to make another approach for Southampton striker Che Adams in the summer, as his price tag tumbles with the Saints looking to cash in on the player.
The January transfer window was a hectic time at Elland Road as they frantically searched for a top-drawer goalscorer capable of bringing the firepower to both provide competition to Patrick Bamford and to ensure that the Whites have the goals in their squad to get over the line for automatic promotion.
The prime target on Victor Orta’s list was the form Birmingham City and current Southampton striker Che Adams, a player struggling for game time since moving up to the Premier League at the start of 2019/20.
Leeds clearly didn’t have the funds available to bring in Adams on a permanent basis right away and thus moved to seal a loan deal with the option to buy him upon promotion. The West Yorkshire outfit tabled three different bids, all rejected, with the third amounting to an eye-watering £20million permanent option.
Marcelo Bielsa eventually got a striker into his squad in the shape of French under-21 international Jean-Kevin Augustin in a similarly moulded transfer, but with the lack of impact he has had so far, there are doubts over his long-term future at the club.
If Leeds are to be promoted to the top flight, they will need to ensure they bring in guaranteed goals, which Adams may fit the bill for if Augustin moves on.
Football Insider revealed that Southampton have lowered their valuation of the striker as they are keen to move him on, seeing a £10million price tag the current asking price, which is something far closer to Leeds’ ballpark.
Speaking to Football Insider, former Leeds defender Alex Bruce believes Leeds could go back in for the striker in the summer, which could be a much wiser move with the finances more manageable now. He stated: “He’s a good player. I’ve always liked him, played against him a few times and he showed huge potential when he was at Sheffield United.
“He moved to Birmingham, did well, and then Southampton and he hasn’t really played, he’s played a little bit. He can strike the ball with either foot, he’s still young and it wouldn’t surprise me if he was one Leeds would go and look at.
“He’s got really good attributes and he’s a handful. For Leeds he might be worth a punt.”
There’s no doubt from the Leeds end that they are keen on Adams, as he was the number one target throughout January, and with his valuation nearly slashed in half from that failed move, there could be a lot more to this deal for the Whites.