Leeds United have bizarrely been linked with a move to sign Crystal Palace’s star striker Jean-Philippe Mateta.

If the first three games have proven anything for Daniel Farke this Premier League season, it’s that they will likely be competitive in the fight for survival, but need more goals to ensure they have a greater chance.

Four points is a respectable return, but one goal in three games is obviously cause for concern, begging the question of why Leeds didn’t add more to the squad in the final weeks of the window.

Most Read on LeedsAllOver

Leeds United ‘linked’ with shock move to sign Crystal Palace’s Jean-Phillips Mateta

It remains up for debate what Leeds could have done with after landing Noah Okafor, as the club attempts to land right-sided attacking midfielders Facundo Buonanotte and Harry Wilson.

Some suggest a big-money striker signing on top of Lukas Nmecha and Dominic Calvert-Lewin would be the route towards survival.

With that, CaughtOffside are claiming Leeds are one of three clubs in the Premier League looking into a move to sign Crystal Palace’s star striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, alongside Aston Villa and Newcastle United.

(REUTERS/David Klein)

Despite the window closing a week ago, it is said that Leeds are looking to keep up the pressure on the Eagles over their vital striker, who could command an asking price as high as £52million, according to TNT Sports.

Reality: Leeds United are absolutely not even looking to sign Jean-Philippe Mateta

You shouldn’t need me to tell you that Leeds won’t be signing Mateta from Palace in the January window, but in case it needs clarifying, here we are.

Mateta, 28, has emphatically hit his prime at Selhurst Park since Leeds dropped out of the Premier League, going from two goals in 22/23 up to a stunning 16 goals and five assists in 23/24, then a further 14 goals last season under Oliver Glasner.

His exploits helped Palace qualify for Europe this season via the FA Cup, and that elevated position in the food chain allows Palace to not only retain Mateta outside of receiving a monster sum, but also means the Frenchman surely won’t even entertain an exit that isn’t seen as a definite upgrade.

An upgrade, Leeds United are currently not.

This is all before even looking at the financials at trying to sign Mateta who, as shared above, would probably cost Leeds around £50million or more in the January window – a window where Palace won’t want to part ways.

Leeds do not have that sort of money to throw at a striker, unless they make notable sales, which was thoroughly outlined by managing director Robbie Evans shortly after the deadline passed.

“Yeah, so unequivocally, we are maxing PSR out this season, this summer,” Evans said via the YEP. “We spent everything we could. If we had gone onto other targets yesterday (deadline day) or onto higher price players back in July, the consequences would have been seen in the current roster, in terms of players we either could not add beyond the guys that got brought in – so the players that came in in August wouldn’t have come had those deals been made in July – or you’d see more key players from last year’s promotion side having to go.”

Rodrigo Muniz was seen as one of these “higher price players” back in July, and Leeds’ attempts already took them into a ballpark they couldn’t justify, so someone at the peak of their powers that is arguably one of the most lethal strikers in the Premier League right now is just obvious nonsense.

What signings would Leeds need in January? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!