---
title: "Leeds: Paul Robinson raises Mergim Berisha concern"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-paul-robinson-berisha-transfer-news-reaction/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "David Comerford"
section: "Leeds United News"
published: "2022-07-30T16:15:44Z"
modified: "2022-07-30T16:15:44Z"
---

# Leeds: Paul Robinson raises Mergim Berisha concern

**Leeds United would be gambling by signing Mergim Berisha, [former Whites goalkeeper Paul Robinson says](https://motleedsnews.com/exclusives/sky-sports-pundit-reacts-as-leeds-united-make-move-to-sign-mergim-berisha/).**

### The lowdown

Turkish journalist Omer Celikbasli told [MOT Leeds News](https://motleedsnews.com/exclusives/exclusive-mergim-berisha-likely-wage-demands-as-leeds-united-table-bid-for-new-signing/) on Wednesday that Jesse Marsch’s side had offered £1.7m for Berisha, the Fenerbache striker.

‘Negotiations continue’ over the potential signing, with the Turkish Super Lig outfit holding out for a fee closer to £4.2million.

Berisha, 24, has experience of working with Marsch at [Red Bull Salzburg](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/mergim-berisha/profil/spieler/307924), much like Brenden Aaronson and Rasmus Kristensen, who have already made the move this summer.

### The latest

[Sky Sports pundit](https://icdb.tv/stats/110/Paul-Robinson) Robinson, who played for the club at senior level between 1998 and 2004, discussed the rumour with [MOT Leeds News](https://motleedsnews.com/exclusives/sky-sports-pundit-reacts-as-leeds-united-make-move-to-sign-mergim-berisha/).

While the signing may seem ‘low-risk’ on paper because of the small fee, he’s worried by Berisha’s goalscoring record in what is a ‘poor league’ and fears that the German may not address the club’s needs.

“It’s a low-risk signing but it’s a chance,” he said.

“It’s seven goals in 30 games in a poor league, the Turkish league is nowhere near as strong as the Premier League, it’s not a huge return. He’s not exactly pulling up trees there, if you’re going over there and want to bring in a player from there, you’ll want him to have a big impact in the Turkish league, getting a bag full of goals.

“It’s a low-risk signing because it’s less than £5million, but it’s a chance you’re taking on a player that hasn’t done it yet. It’s high risk performance-wise.”

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### The verdict

Are Robinson’s concerns justified?

To a degree, yes. The Turkish league [ranks down in 20th](https://www.uefa.com/nationalassociations/uefarankings/country/#/yr/2022) in the UEFA coefficient, while the Premier League is top of the pile.

However, there are some important points of context to raise too. First off, Berisha [only played 1,513 minutes](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/mergim-berisha/leistungsdaten/spieler/307924/plus/0?saison=2021) – the equivalent of 16.8 matches – last season as he dealt with injuries and battled to nail down a spot.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”398317″\]

Second, he notched [35 direct goal involvements in 56 appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/mergim-berisha/leistungsdaten/spieler/307924/plus/0?saison=2021) for Salzburg, who play in the eighth-best league in Europe.

And his overall record of [75 goals and 39 assists in 199 games](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/mergim-berisha/leistungsdaten/spieler/307924/plus/0?saison=ges) makes him look like a reasonable option.

He’s a player who’s capable of the spectacular in more ways than one, netting a ‘[scissor-kick volley](https://twitter.com/btsportfootball/status/1456397210711740420)‘ against Antwerp in last season’s Europa League, but also [hitting the post three times in succession](https://twitter.com/Buntingfootball/status/1400548080475385862) for Germany’s Under-21s at last summer’s European Championships.