Dan James upgrade: Leeds make contact to sign “wonderful” £12m star
Leeds United have a lot of big decisions to make on players currently at the club between now and when the summer transfer window slams shut at the start of September.
The Whites need to decide which players are ready to make the jump from the Championship to the Premier League, and which ones need to be moved on.
Journalist Mike McGrath recently reported that Dan James is set to put pen to paper on a new long-term contract at Elland Road to remain at the club.
This is a big show of faith from Daniel Farke and the club as it shows that there is a belief behind the scenes that he will play a key role in the Premier League next term.
The Wales international plundered 12 goals and nine assists in the Championship last season, but there is still a question mark over his ability to make an impact at the top level.
Why Dan James may struggle next season
There is no doubt about the former Swansea star’s quality at Championship level, given that he produced 25 goals and 16 assists in two seasons with Leeds, but he has yet to prove himself consistently in the Premier League.
James has played four Premier League seasons in his career to date, with Manchester United, Leeds, and Fulham combined, and has never been a consistent performer in front of goal.
In those four campaigns, the Welsh speedster never managed more than four goals or more than six assists in the division, which is a far cry from the kind of form he has displayed in the second tier.
After a return of four goals and four assists in 31 Premier League starts in the 2021/22 campaign for Leeds, the Whites decided to send him out on loan to Fulham for the 2022/23 season.
As you can see in the table above, James struggled badly during his time with the Londoners, with just three goal contributions in 24 games before his return to Elland Road to play in the Championship.
This suggests that there is no guarantee that the Wales international will be a key player, at least as a regular starter, in the Premier League for Farke next season.
With this in mind, it may make sense that Leeds are reportedly interested in adding another option to the squad in that area of the pitch this summer.
Leeds enquire about deal for Serie A forward
According to TuttoJuve reporter Mirko Di Natale, Leeds United are one of a number of clubs interested in a deal to sign Timothy Weah from Juventus.
The journalist claims that the Whites have already made contact with the Italian giants to make an enquiry about a possible move for the USA international this summer.
Di Natale adds, though, that there is plenty of competition for his signature because fellow Premier League side Everton and French outfit Marseille are also eyeing him up.
It has previously been reported that Nottingham Forest also have an interest in the versatile wide player, who is said to be valued at around £12m by Juventus.
It now remains to be seen whether or not the Championship champions are ready to move further with their pursuit of the 25-year-old ace, who could come in as an upgrade on Dan James.
Why Leeds should sign Timothy Weah
The Whites should push to strike a deal for Weah, for a fee of around £12m, before the end of the summer transfer window because he could be a quality addition to the group.
At a minimum, the American forward would provide James with real competition for his place and potentially push him to improve by taking away any complacency he may have.
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