How Leeds can sign a centre-forward upgrade for £17m

Leeds United continued their preparations for the upcoming Premier League season with a 1-0 win over Sunderland in their latest pre-season friendly on Thursday night.

New signing Tarik Muharemovic caught the eye with a classy performance in the centre-back position after his £34m move from Sassuolo, helping his side to keep a clean sheet against the Black Cats.

It was Lukas Nmecha who grabbed the headlines, though, as his strike from long distance snuck in off the post to win the friendly for Daniel Farke.

The former Germany international joined the Whites on a free transfer from Wolfsburg last year, and he spent most of last season as a back-up to Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Why Leeds need a better striker than Lukas Nmecha

Nmecha may have scored the winner against Sunderland on Thursday night, but his performances in the Premier League in the 2025/26 campaign do not suggest that he is set to play a starring role next term.

The 27-year-old only started ten of his appearances in the division for the Whites, and the manager may have preferred Calvert-Lewin over him due to his superior goalscoring attributes, as the Englishman racked up 14 goals.

Nmecha underperformed against his xG, scoring six goals from 7.23 xG, and only found the back of the net four times from open play in 31 appearances in total.

The former Manchester City prospect did offer physicality up front for the Whites, winning 40% or more of his ground and aerial duels, but the technical quality in front of goal was lacking at times.

His struggles in the final third are why the club should be looking to sign another striker who can slot in between him and Calvert-Lewin in the pecking order at Elland Road next term.

Leeds eyeing striker who’s a level above Lukas Nmecha

The 49ers are already said to be looking at an attacker who would arrive in West Yorkshire as an even better option than Nmecha ahead of the upcoming campaign.

Football Insider reports that Leeds United have set their sights on a deal to sign Burnley centre-forward Zian Flemming before the end of the window.

The outlet claims that the Whites want to sign another striker to compete with Calvert-Lewin, and they have identified the Dutch attacker as a possible signing.

Former scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Leeds are being “ambitious” in the transfer market and that Flemming, who has previously been touted at a fee of £17m, would be a “smart” addition to Farke’s squad.

The Whites should now push ahead with a deal for the Dutchman because he would arrive at the club as an upgrade on Nmecha to provide Calvert-Lewin with serious competition for his place in the team.

Burnley were relegated from the Premier League at the end of the 2025/26 campaign, but Flemming caught the eye with his performances in the top-flight after stepping up from the Championship.

What makes his return of 11 goals particularly impressive is that he only started 21 of their league matches, suggesting that he can be incredibly effective without starting every single match.

He could compete with Calvert-Lewin for a starting spot whilst also having the proven ability to score goals without starting week-in-week-out, which means that he can offer quality both as a starter and as a substitute.

He scored nine non-penalty goals in the Premier League for the Clarets last term, five more than Nmecha managed, whilst he also outperformed his xG.

Flemming is a far more clinical finisher than the German forward, at least on the evidence of last season, and would provide a greater threat to Calvert-Lewin’s place in the side.

The 27-year-old star also won more ground duels and more aerial duels than Nmecha per game in the top-flight, suggesting that he would offer even more physicality to the team as a presence in the centre-forward position.

Flemming would be a terrific signing for the Whites, therefore, because he is already proven in the Premier League and would be a much better option than Nmecha as a viable starter in the number nine role.

That is why Farke should push the club to pay the £17m that it may take to bring him to the club as their latest signing of the summer window.

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