Leeds hold talks to seal an even better signing than Schmid

While Lukas Nmecha stole most of the plaudits after Leeds United’s 1-0 Premier League win over Fulham, it was clearly a team effort that saw Daniel Farke’s men grind it out to a slim victory.

Noted as having “such a good season” by the Athletic’s Adam Crafton, Ethan Ampadu would star both as a combative option and as a creative outlet against the Cottagers, as seen in him winning six duels, and assisting the German’s late winner.

Moreover, Brenden Aaronson would leave the pitch to a standing ovation when he was substituted off towards the close of the tight affair, with the energetic American amassing two key passes and six ground duels won, as a constant livewire throughout.

While Farke will be overjoyed with both the quality and determination on display throughout his ranks, he will still be keen to add reinforcements this January, as striker additions continue to flood their shopping list.

Latest on Leeds’ January transfer search

Already, Leeds have busy in the chaotic market to improve their options, with Facundo Buonanotte leaving Chelsea behind mid-season, to move to the Whites on loan.

They won’t be done here, however, after snapping up the short-term services of the Brighton and Hove Albion loanee, with Jorgen Strand Larsen still very much on their radar as a centre-forward target.

Moreover, as sources close to the player relayed to FootballFanCast earlier this week, Leeds have AZ Alkmaar goal machine Troy Parrott in their sights as another January target up top.

Indeed, the report states that the Republic of Ireland international is content with life in the Netherlands, as he continues to set the Eredivisie alight, but he would like to eventually test himself in the Premier League again, having previously failed to make the first team cut at boyhood employers Tottenham Hotspur.

This is where Farke and Co. come in, with it being revealed that the 49ers have been in talks over a deal happening this month, with contact already made.

If the Premier League newcomers were successful in their advances, they could be about to land a better move than exploring a deal for Werder Bremen playmaker Romano Schmid, who they have also been linked to incessantly.

Why Parrott is a better signing than Schmid

Yet, despite rampant speculation, it looks unlikely that the Austrian midfielder will uproot from Bremen to Yorkshire, with Buonanotte’s arrival looking to have stopped this move in its tracks.

It does make sense that Leeds would chase after the 5-foot-9 ace, over going all in for the Graz-born star, with the Argentine standing out as a Premier League-proven talent.

On top of the promise of the 21-year-old, who has 13 top-flight goal contributions, Farke also already has the aforementioned Aaronson at his disposal as a creative menace centrally, with a £12m deal for Schmid not that pressing to get over the line, subsequently.

Whereas, with Leeds’ wins this season in the top flight often only secured by the odd goal, adding in a striker of Parrott’s firepower could really enhance their options up top, away from over-relying on Dominic Calvert-Lewin to deliver the goods.

Amazingly, the red-hot 23-year-old can boast a stunning 19 goals this season in all competitions, from just 1896 minutes of action, with his long-standing form in front of goal since leaving Spurs behind more than backing up claims that he is a “phenomenal” goalscorer, as hailed by ex-boss Ryan Lowe.

Staggeringly, Parrott has managed to collect seven career hat-tricks from 292 games, playing in the Netherlands and beyond, with his addition to the Leeds ranks surely boosting the attacking ranks that sometimes depend on Calvert-Lewin to shine.

Whereas Schmid’s arrival onto the scene might not have been as obviously felt, with his two goals and five assists this season from the heart of Bremen’s midfield, not too dissimilar to Aaronson’s own collection back at Leeds of three goals and four assists.

Moreover, he has him beaten in terms of duels won per league contest, coming in at 4.3 duels won on average, next to Schmid’s lesser 3.4.

Therefore, there is no guarantee that Schmid would have relocated to Yorkshire and been an instant success.

On the contrary, Parrott would be desperate to succeed, having been binned off by Spurs prematurely, before becoming an “unbelievable” machine away from North London, as he has been labelled by Shelbourne defender Paddy Barrett, who is just one defender, among many, to have felt his wrath.