Leeds United look as if they’ll go right down to the wire when it comes to January additions.
It has been a rather understated transfer window from Daniel Farke and Co so far, with loanee Facundo Buonanotte the only notable incoming at the Premier League side, but that could all soon change as Monday’s deadline gradually sneaks up on the West Yorkshire giants.
Leeds hold talks with £25m star
Leeds look to be back on for the statement signing of Jorgen Strand Larsen, with the Norwegian’s expected move to Crystal Palace falling through at the final hour.
This would be a very exciting development, as Farke goes about enhancing his attacking arsenal ahead of the tricky battle against the drop to come, with Leeds also keeping an eye on the summer, when it comes to other statement signings relocating to Yorkshire.
Leeds will hope, when all is said and done on the chaotic 2025/26 season, that they are able retain their Premier League status.
Survival will open up doors for Leeds to splash the cash even more, away from the expected £39m being splashed out on Strand Larsen’s services, with SportsBoom revealing that the Whites have former loanee Jaidon Anthony in their long-term sights.
Indeed, the report states that the 26-year-old is the subject of some intense transfer speculation in the later days of the window, owing to his important role in Burnley’s own survival story standing out.
His impressive displays near the foot of the Premier League have resulted in Everton, Fulham, and Leeds sniffing about, with a mid-season move looking highly unlikely to be signed off on, off the back of the Clarets slapping a weighty £25m price tag above their star man’s head.
This hasn’t completely put off the chasing pack, though, who are all stated to have held preliminary talks with the Burnley number 11, over gauging out more realistic financial requirements.
Why Anthony could be a better signing than Strand Larsen
If Leeds were to eventually win Anthony’s services, he would arguably go down as a better signing than Strand Larsen joining the ranks, despite all the fanfare surrounding the Scandinavian’s name.
That initial statement in isolation might well raise a few eyebrows, with Strand Larsen previously putting away 14 Premier League goals for Wolverhampton Wanderers to be deemed worthy of his £50m valuation. Moreover, Anthony has underwhelmed on the books of Leeds before, when only tallying up two goals during the 2023/24 season, which saw the Whites ultimately fail in their pursuit of promotion.
But, it’s a much fairer take when you look at Anthony’s transformation this season, with the sumptuous leveller above against Manchester United earlier this month, just one memorable slice of the 26-year-old’s standout exploits at Turf Moor.
The reenergised number 11 would also prove to be pivotal right at the start of the campaign for Scott Parker’s men, when collecting a goal and assist against newly promoted Sunderland, as their first league victory of the season was collected.
His continued commitment to the cause certainly backs up comments made by Parker in the past that the 6-foot winger is “incredible” for how much he can offer, with his Clarets boss also lauding him as an “unbelievable” character to have around the dressing room.
On the contrary, Strand Larsen has regularly been accused of “doing absolutely nothing” up top for Rob Edwards’ bottom-of-the-table Old Gold by TalkSPORT’s Darren Bent, with just one league goal fired home across 21 Premier League encounters this season, surely making Leeds question somewhat why they’d be willing to drop £45m or more on his hot-and-cold services.
Anthony’s PL numbers (25/26) vs Strand Larsen’s
Stat – per 90 mins*
Games played
22
21
Goals scored
5
1
Assists
1
1
Touches*
35.6
20.8
Shots*
1.1
1.0
Accurate passes*
15.3 (76%)
7.9 (65%)
Key passes*
0.9
0.3
Big chances missed
1
3
Big chances created
1
1
Ball recoveries*
3.6
0.7
Total duels won*
3.6
3.1
Stats by Sofascore
Farke would have faith in his ability as a manager to get the very best out of the pricey striker again, but it doesn’t feel like a necessary gamble to make when you consider he already has nine-goal star Dominic Calvert-Lewin at his disposal.
Whereas, with Anthony, who can play down either channel and has been noted as “valuable” by his ex-Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola for that very reason, the German would be able to add so much more depth to his camp, with Noah Okafor, Wilfried Gnonto and Dan James his only recognised options on the flanks.
Anthony has even slotted in as a number ten on occasion, with Leeds perhaps being better placed to hold off on Strand Larsen’s signature, to go after the £25m-rated star, instead, so they can win a purchase who would be more beneficial for the entire squad.
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Leeds given Jorgen Strand Larsen boost after Crystal Palace deal update
The Whites could have a serious opportunity.