Leeds United are interested in Red Bull Salzburg striker Junior Adamu, according to Sky Sport Austria. 

The lowdown

The Athletic's Phil Hay wrote last month that Jesse Marsch wanted to add a centre forward to his ranks. He reported at the time that Marsch was looking for a Premier League striker, but it seems that the 48-year-old has now broadened his search.

Leeds have already completed one signing from their manager's former club, sealing a £24.7m deal for Brenden Aaronson, and they are also on the verge of securing a second in the form of right-back Rasmus Kristensen.

The 21-year-old is under contract with the Austrian Bundesliga champions for another three years.

The latest

Sky Sport Austria claimed that Adamu is 'in demand', with interest from both the German Bundesliga and the Premier League.

'According to Sky information', Leeds, Southampton and West Ham United are all in the race to sign him. However, there is further competition from Champions League outfit RB Leipzig, Europa League winners Eintracht Frankfurt and Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin.

Transfer expert Marc Behrenbeck added that Adamu 'can be bought for 10 million' Euro, the equivalent of £8.5m.

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The verdict

Adamu managed nine goals and five assists in 43 appearances in the 2021/22 season, which is a slightly underwhelming record on the face of it. However, it's worth stressing that he only started 23 games, while he averaged a direct goal contribution every 147 minutes.

His record of 11 goals in 13 outings for Austria's under-21 side also underlines his potential, and £8.5m is a reasonable fee to stump up.

The likes of Erling Haaland, who scored 86 goals in 89 games for Borussia Dortmund before making a £51.2m move to Manchester City, and Patson Daka, who bagged 11 in his first season for Leicester, have already come off the centre-forward production line at Salzburg.

Adamu may not quite be on their level, but he did score an 'absolutely brilliant' goal (in the words of Chris Sutton) against Bayern Munich in the Champions League round of 16 earlier this year, and that may well have caught Leeds' eye.

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