Phil Hay has confirmed that Leeds United are ‘firm admirers’ of Paris Saint-Germain forward Arnaud Kalimuendo.

The Lowdown: Leeds transfer rumours

Victor Orta is after a new striker to add to the Whites six first-team signings already this summer, with Kalimuendo one forward linked.

Reports previously claimed that Leeds even made a €20m (£16.9m) offer for the 20-year-old, who enjoyed a productive loan spell with Lens last season, scoring 12 Ligue 1 goals in 34 appearances.

A fresh enquiry has been made by the Whites in recent days regarding Kalimuendo, with Newcastle, Ajax and Atalanta also keen on the Frenchman’s services.

The Latest: Hay’s update on Kalimuendo

Hay has kept quiet when it comes to Kalimuendo but has provided a number of updates on another attacking target in Charles De Ketelaere, although The Athletic's Leeds correspondent took to Twitter on Wednesday evening following Raphinha’s agreed move to Barcelona to share what’s next at Elland Road.

He revealed that the club are happy to match Club Brugge and De Ketelaere’s demands, although the Belgian seems to favour a move to AC Milan. Hay then added that Leeds are ‘also firm admirers’ of Kalimuendo, with a new forward top of the club’s priority list in the transfer market.

He tweeted:

"In terms of what next for Leeds in the transfer market, they’re happy to match Club Brugge and Charles De Ketelaere’s demands but it’s been made clear to them that CdK favours a move to Milan. Leeds also firm admirers of PSG’s Arnaud Kalimuendo. A new forward tops the agenda."

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The Verdict: Get it done

It appears that Leeds are second best for De Ketelaere, so it could be wise for the club to end their interest in the Belgian altogether and pursue Kalimuendo instead.

The French youngster appears to be a hugely exciting talent who is much more than just a goalscorer.

Capable of playing in a deeper role or on the wing, he ranks in the 99th percentile for forwards across Europe's top five leagues when it comes to passing success rate (82.6%), showing excellent composure in the final third for such a young player.

Therefore, you’d like to think that he could slot perfectly into Jesse Marsch’s plans due to his impressive displays over the past 12 months, with scope for further development and versatility.