Leeds United have only signed one attacker this summer, in spite of the 49ers providing Daniel Farke with seven new additions so far.
The first signing of Leeds United’s summer was a free transfer, with Lukas Nmecha brought in on a free transfer from VfL Wolfsburg to add depth to the attack.
Since then, defenders Sebastiaan Bornauw, Jaka Bijol, and Gabriel Gudmundsson have arrived. Lucas Perri is the latest through the door, as a large and imposing goalkeeper.
The two midfielders are defensive midfielder Anton Stach and box-to-box midfielder Sean Longstaff. It means the most ‘attacking’ additions after Nmecha are arguably Gudmundsson and Longstaff.
Graham Smyth outlines Lukas Nmecha as one of the most impressive Leeds players in pre-season
It’s very clear that Leeds’ focus should now be on signing decisive players in the final third, with match-winners absolutely paramount for a team to survive.
There are still three weeks until they face Everton, but the 26-year-old striker is the only new forward at the club. Nmecha has already been compared to Georginio Rutter before ever pulling on the shirt in a professional match setting.
The fact Wolfsburg wanted to retain the centre-forward says a lot, and Graham Smyth has been impressed in what he has seen so far in the pre-season games, with Nmecha scoring twice in Germany in as many games.
Speaking via the Inside Elland Road podcast, Smyth said: “I continue to be quite impressed with Lukas Nmecha. Mobile for a big guy, but I like the way he wants to take defenders on.
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“There was an instance yesterday (Saturday) where he picked up the ball on the left, turned, drove at a defender, tried to go round him, [and] got sufficient space that the defender had to go through Nmecha to get the ball.
“And he won a free-kick in a dangerous place. He’s got a lovely touch at times. He’s getting himself in the right place to get on the end of chances. He probably could have had another goal.
“He could have been looking at four goals from the two that he’s got. But he’ll be pleased to be in and amongst the goals.”
Nmecha has claimed he is already growing in confidence in pre-season so far, with the new Leeds striker having a point to prove after years of injuries.
He also has a point to prove to the fanbase, with a number of Leeds fans aware Nmecha is a risky signing and greeting the move with skepticism.
Photo by Linnea Rheborg/Getty ImagesLukas Nmecha’s verdict on Leeds’ relegation battle to survive
Nmecha has plenty to work on, but his superior athleticism, strength, and power will all benefit the Whites in relieving pressure and in being a focal point.
Nmecha already thinks Leeds can survive relegation, and his performances so far prove that he could have a big part to play in that, provided that he can stay fit.
He said: “It’s definitely going to be difficult. The last few years have shown some difficulties with the teams coming up. But I think Leeds is just a massive club. It is a bit of a difference to what we’ve seen.
“I’m really optimistic. I think with the team we already have and few more new people coming in, we can do a really good job.”
Pep Guardiola and Vincent Kompany love Nmecha. It’s not a question of his undeniable ability; it is simply down to his availability for Leeds.