Better signing than Vardy: Leeds make move for “extraordinary” £13m CF

Better signing than Vardy: Leeds make move for “extraordinary” £13m CF

It seems like Leeds United will look to sign a new striker this summer, their first back in the Premier League after a two-season absence. There have already been strong links to two English top-flight stalwarts.

One of those is Callum Wilson, the Newcastle United striker who will leave on a free at the end of the season. The other is legendary Leicester City star Jamie Vardy, who will also depart the King Power Stadium at the end of the campaign when his contract expires.

 

Part of Leeds’ transfer policy at this stage of the summer, just days out from the transfer window opening, is clear: sign a striker. Well, perhaps their best option is actually a man whom they would have to buy, rather than sign on a free transfer.

 

The latest on Leeds’ hunt for a striker

Leeds clearly want to sign a new centre-forward in the coming weeks, and if a player on a free transfer is not the answer, perhaps Kasper Dolberg is the man they will look to bring in from Belgian side Anderlecht.

 

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

 

According to a reports – via website Voetbalkrant, the Whites hold a strong interest in signing Dolberg this summer. They are believed to have ‘reported to Brussels for Dolberg’, suggesting they have made an ‘approach’ for the Denmark international.

 

It is thought that Leeds ‘see the Dane as the ideal reinforcement for the attack’, and they seem like they will really push to sign him this summer.

 

kasper-dolberg-denmark

However, the Yorkshire outfit ‘be able to meet Anderlecht’s demands’, which was reportedly a fee of £13m by Florian Plettenberg back in November 2024.

 

Why Dolberg would be a good signing

At 27 years of age, Dolberg is about to enter his prime, having been something of a journeyman, playing across Europe for the likes of Ajax and Sevilla. Now settled at Anderlecht, the Denmark international has had a strong season.

 

Dolberg-Anderlecht-transfer

In 44 games across all competitions, the Ajax academy graduate has managed to find the back of the net 24 times and grab two assists, too. His season has been hampered somewhat by a couple of injury issues, too.

 

In the Jupiler Pro League, the top flight in Belgium, it has been a very successful individual campaign for the striker. He has 14 goals and an assist in 22 games, having played 1685 minutes. That gives him an average of 112 minutes per goal and assist. The highlight of that was surely a hat-trick against Cercle Brugge.

 

It will be interesting to see who Leeds decide to try and sign, if it comes down to Dolberg or the hugely experienced Vardy. The Whites’ reported target has now famously made 500 appearances for Leicester and reached 200 goals for the club at the weekend, his final home game.

 

It has been a strong season for Vardy in a Leicester shirt, despite what was a poor year for the Foxes. He managed nine goals and four assists in 35 Premier League games, impressive given his side’s form and the fact he is banging the goals in at 38 years of age.

 

Yet, it has been a season where Dolberg’s numbers in front of goal are actually better than Vardy’s, suggesting Leeds should in fact look to bring him in this summer. This is a signing the Yorkshire outfit need to get right, not least as he is an “extraordinary talent”, as hailed by John Steen Olsen.

 

Well, judging by some of the underlying numbers on FBref, perhaps the Dane should be the man Leeds go for. For example, he averages 0.75 goals and 0.38 goals per shot on target per 90 minutes compared to Vardy’s 0.29 goals per game and 0.35 goals per shot on target.

 

Dolberg and Vardy key shooting stats compared

 

Stat (per 90)

 

Dolberg

 

Vardy

 

Goals

 

0.75

 

0.29

 

Goals per shot

 

0.18

 

0.14

 

Goals per shot on target

 

0.38

 

0.35

 

Expected goals

 

0.68xG

 

0.36xG

 

Goal-creating actions

 

2.15

 

1.5

 

Stats from FBref

 

Whatever Leeds decide to do will be fascinating, but for just £13m, perhaps Dolberg is the man they should sign. He has had a better season than Vardy, and the underlying numbers reinforce that. As Jurgen Klopp once said, he is a “fantastic” striker.

 

With age on his side too, it seems a signing that makes sense for Leeds. He could well be a striker who can find the back of the net enough to keep them in the Premier League.

 

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ropey

Anyone would be a better signing than the washed up granddad that is Vardy.

 

2025-05-23 02:54:09

 

 

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