Noah Okafor is one of the latest players to be linked with a move to Leeds United after he left Isaac Schmidt bamboozled in Dublin, and Jesse Marsch has already had his say on the Swiss star.
If Leeds were not already looking at Okafor before the 1-1 draw at The Aviva Stadium, they certainly will have been afterwards. Anything good Milan produced, especially in the first half, came down their left.
A lot was left to be desired when it came to Schmidt’s positioning and defending, but Okafor took full advantage. Milan’s goal came from that side when the ball bobbled across the box to Santiago Gimenez.
Now, Leeds want to sign Okafor. A deal that makes sense given Leeds are set to announce the arrival of Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Okafor adds cover up front, but can also play from the left wing. Ideal for Leeds.
Photo by Tim Clayton/Getty ImagesWhat Jesse Marsch said about former player Noah Okafor
It is January 2020, and Jesse Marsch is making a name for himself at Salzburg, with Erling Haaland up top. He spent a fee believed to be £11.2m to sign a young Noah Okafor from Switzerland giants Basel.
It turns out to be an inspired bit of business, something Marsch failed to do during his time at Leeds. The Switzerland ace would go on to have a hand in 57 goals during 110 games for Salzburg, before Milan.
Photo by Jon Hobley/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Speaking in 2020, a few months after doing a deal for Okafor, Marsch praised him. He told TricksFast that Okafor is versatile, inadvertently giving Leeds fans an insight into what they can expect, five years on.
“He’s always an option for the starting XI,” Marsch said after Okafor scored a hat-trick against WSG Tirol in 2020. “He can play in many different positions. He can play on the offensive flanks or in the frontline.”
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“I was very happy that he scored three goals. I think that’s good for Noah. We talked a lot with Noah about tactical things. And, in the end, we said, now is the time to show your skills and fight,” he added.
Jesse Marsch tried to sign Noah Okafor at Leeds United
Fast forward a couple of years from Marsch’s quotes in 2020, and the American is now at Leeds. Having helped Leeds survive relegation after taking over from Marcelo Bielsa, he needed to keep Leeds up again.
After a difficult first half to the season before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar that winter, Marsch identified the need for a striker in January 2023. CalcioMercato said Leeds were considering Salzburg’s Okafor.
Instead of a reunion between Marsch and Okafor at Elland Road, Leeds instead signed Georginio Rutter from Hoffenheim, which didn’t work out. Two and a half years on, and Leeds may finally sign Okafor.