How Man United transfer could now gift Leeds United golden opportunity to sign brand new striker

 A summer striker carousel like no other continues to spin with over three weeks still to go in the transfer window, and the latest developments mean Leeds United could find themselves in an unlikely three-way move with Manchester United and Inter Milan.

It took less than 72 hours from Hojlund telling Fabrizio Romano “I think my plan is very clear and that is for me to stay at Manchester United. I want to fight for my spot whatever happens,” to the BBC’s Simon Stone reporting the Dane is on the market for £30m - less than half of the initial £64m fee that brought him to Old Trafford.

Hojlund found the net in the Red Devils’ 4-1 annihilation of Bournemouth in the Premier League Summer Series but their other three games have been distinctly less free-flowing, as Bruno Fernandez has once again been the linchpin of Ruben Amorim’s attack, scoring three of his side’s eight goals so far this preseason.

So it’s no surprise that Benjamin Sesko continues to edge closer to a move to Old Trafford having become the millionth player to snub Newcastle United this summer, and it makes sense for the Red Devils to cash in on whatever remaining sell-on value Hojlund has left.

Inter Milan are one of the interested parties according to Romano, with the Italian giants looking to strengthen the ageing squad that reached the Champions League final last season having only seen Marko Arnautovic exit the club so far this window.

The Nerazzurri have eight front-line players over the age of 30 who combined for 362 appearances last campaign, but while the likes of Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Hakan Calhanoglu racked up over 3,000 minutes each, Mehdi Taremi played barely half that amount and is available even before Inter have officially swooped for Hojlund.

Taremi started just 14 league and European games last season and if the Dane does head to the San Siro that would surely seal his fate with Inter still holding Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram plus highly-rated 21-year-old Ange-Yoan Bonny who signed from Parma this summer.

So Manchester United selling Hojlund to Inter could hand their rivals a transfer boost, as according to TBR Football’s Graeme Bailey, Leeds have been given the opportunity to sign Taremi and are weighing up their options.

Could Taremi really thrive in the Premier League?

Taremi’s a cerebral player whose positioning is excellent both inside and outside the penalty area - his intelligence and football IQ an asset in build-up play with the ball and as the focal point for creative teammates.

His finishing is solid enough to capitalise on that movement and foresight, but if he’s that good a striker, why did he only score one goal in his debut Serie A season? While he undoubtedly struggled to adapt to a big five league, Taremi was done no favours by Simone Inzaghi’s selection either.

He only played over 30 minutes in Serie A 10 times last season, he played nine full halves of football and just one entire game (which he registered an assist in), but Taremi’s strike rate outside of Italy is more promising.

Having moved to Europe aged 29, Taremi made up for lost time in Portugal first with Rio Ave, then Porto as he scored 18, 16, 20 and 22 goals in his first four league campaigns before an injury-blighted 2023/24 season wasn’t enough to put Inter off a move for the Iranian.

And despite his domestic woes, Taremi continued his impressive Champions League record at his new home, scoring one and assisting four including Davide Frattesi’s immortal extra-time winner against Barcelona. So now reportedly on sale for €10m (£8.7m), even aged 33 the late bloomer could well be a risk worth taking for Daniel Farke.

Options open for Leeds

Aleksandar Mitrovic is also an option to Leeds according to TBR Football, and boasts a mightily impressive record in English football of 128 goals in 278 matches, scoring approximately every three games in the Premier League. For what it’s worth, he’s also hit 47 in 51 in the Saudi Pro League since moving to the Middle East for £50m in 2023 and 14 in 18 in the AFC Champions League, so Mitrovic at least has his eye in even if the calibre of Leeds’ competition would require a step back up.

Al-Hilal are reportedly offering the Serbian on loan as they close in on signing Darwin Nunez and the league’s foreign player cap of 10 in total and eight without age restriction means someone must be moved off the books at least temporarily.

Meanwhile Red Bull’s involvement with Leeds means they now have access to one of the best scouting networks in the world, that’s turned out Sesko, Erling Haaland, Dominik Szoboszlai, Ibrahima Konate and Leeds’ own Brenden Aaronson (among many, many others) in recent years.

However, while a gamble on an undiscovered gem could pay off big in the long run, Leeds aren’t too concerned with long-term thinking given the pressing need to become the first promoted club to survive in the Premier League in three seasons, while taking Mitrovic on loan for a season would hardly be ideal.

Taremi could represent the best of both worlds, and if his goals do keep Leeds in the Premier League next season, fans at Elland Road may need to raise a glass to Manchester United for helping facilitate the signing through the sale of Hojlund.