Leeds United are interested in a deal to bring Noah Okafor to the club in the January transfer window.
What’s the talk?
That’s according to a report by Italian media outlet Calciomercato (via Sport Witness), who claim that all three of Leeds, Inter Milan and Borussia Dortmund are keeping track of the Red Bull Salzburg centre-forward ahead of launching a potential move for the 22-year-old in the winter market – which opens in a little under four months’ time.
Earlier reports had claimed that several clubs from Germany and England were interested in a deal for the Switzerland international over the summer transfer window – with RB Leipzig, Bayer Leverkusen and Newcastle United all named as potential suitors – while the forward is also reported to be open to the idea of a switch to the Premier League.
The next Haaland
Considering just how exciting a prospect Okafor very much appears to be, it is unsurprising to learn that Leeds have now joined the long list of clubs keeping tabs on the Salzburg starlet ahead of a potential move further down the line.
Indeed, the £16.2m-rated talent has been in red hot form over his seven Austrian Bundesliga appearances – only four of which have come as starts – so far this season, having already bagged four goals, registered one assist and created two big chances for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of 1.6 shots – 0.7 of which have hit the target – making 1.6 key passes and completing 1.6 dribbles per game.
These returns have seen the 22-year-old – who can also operate from central and attacking midfield, as well as on either flank – average an extremely impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.09, ranking him as his club’s ninth-best performer in the league so far this term.
The striker also very much caught the eye in Salzburg’s 1-1 Champions League draw with AC Milan on Tuesday evening, taking three shots at goal, completing three dribbles, winning seven duels and scoring a spectacular opening goal – cutting in from the left before nutmegging Milan centre-back Pierre Kalulu and cooly sliding the ball beyond an onrushing Mike Maignan.
Indeed, considering his deadly nature in front of goal, his potential for exponential growth and the fact he has cut his teeth at Salzburg, it is hardly surprising to see the Swiss sensation earn comparisons to Manchester City goal machine Erling Haaland – the forward who scored an astonishing 27 goals over 27 games during his own time in Austria.
As such, while it is true that Okafor is actually a couple of months older than the Norweigan monster, should Orta go on to seal a deal for the player who Josh Bunting dubbed a “superb talent” this January, the Spaniard could well have unearthed the next Haaland-esque discovery from Salzburg – a prospect that is sure to excite supporters and Jesse Marsch alike.