Leeds United bounced back from their demoralising 4-3 defeat away at Newcastle United with a confidence-boosting win in the FA Cup.
On the road again at Derby County, Daniel Farke’s Whites breezed past John Eustace’s Rams in a 3-1 win, with their attentions now shifting back to the Premier League, as Fulham come to Elland Road next.
Farke will be hoping for a return to winning ways in the bread and butter of league action to back up the victory over the Championship hosts, with January also offering him a chance to assess his squad, in case some last-minute dealings are required in the hectic transfer window.
Leeds hold talks to sign new striker
Farke would’ve been largely pleased with the performances on show at Pride Park, as Wilfried Gnonto – who hasn’t been starting games as of late in the Premier League – fired home the crucial equaliser in Derbyshire.
Joel Piroe had more of a cursed day in front of goal, as he missed a penalty, with Leeds perhaps looking to the services of striker target Artem Dovbyk to drop the ex-Swansea City attacker down the first team rankings.
Amazingly, though, he isn’t the only striker with ties to AS Roma that Leeds look to be chasing, with TEAMtalk revealing that the top-flight new boys have held talks with Stadio Olimpico centre-forward Tammy Abraham over a potential January switch.
Now plying his trade in the Turkish Super Lig on loan with Beşiktaş, it has been reported that Abraham’s loan deal could soon be cut short at the Tüpraş Stadium, with Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest, Sunderland, and – of course – Leeds spoken to about the chance of acquiring the Englishman mid-season.
Having picked up a blistering 12 goals from 24 games for the Black Eagles, it’s stated that Abraham would welcome a return to England so he could daringly push himself back into England contention under Thomas Tuchel.
It will be a tough race to win, but Leeds will back themselves in the ongoing tussle, as they potentially win a striker very much built in the same mould as the forceful, yet deadly Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
How Abraham compares to Calvert-Lewin
Coincidentally, conversations have arisen at Elland Road this season about Calvert-Lewin potentially playing himself back into the plans of the Three Lions, off the back of his clinical run of form donning Leeds white.
Much like Abraham, who has had many twists and turns across an extensive career that saw him start as a promising starlet at Chelsea, the Sheffield-born striker has been through the wringer across his own bumpy playing days, resulting in him having to leave behind Everton for a shot at redemption in West Yorkshire.
Safe to say, it’s been a decision that has worked wonders for the 28-year-old’s career, with nine goals next to his name from just 20 appearances. In stark contrast, Calvert-Lewin would only manage to fire home a meagre three goals all of last season, as he stared a Toffees exit in the face.
Abraham will be hoping for a similar resurrection in the Premier League if he were to return, having previously put away 26 goals in the English top-flight on the books of both Swansea and Chelsea.
Abraham’s career record
Stat
Abraham
Games played
459
Minutes played
29,748 mins
Goals scored
186
Assists
54
Hat-tricks
5x
Sourced by Transfermarkt
Only six disappointing efforts would fall his way during his final season with the Blues, but – as is clear when viewing the table above – he has proven himself to be a potent menace outside of the Premier League, with a Calvert-Lewin redemption arc perhaps waiting for him at Elland Road.
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Moreover, away from finding their best again during the latter stages of their journeys, both strikers in question are also physical presences. They’re both tall and the type of striker who simply loves wrestling with a defender, before firing home an opportunity. Indeed, Frank Lampard once noted that Abraham was an “incredible handful” for defenders when their paths crossed at Stamford Bridge.
Similarly, Calvert-Lewin has also been labelled as a “robust” presence who is the “complete package” by BBC 5 Live pundit Glenn Murray, when putting the goals away for fun in West Yorkshire.
With an £11m price tag touted for Abraham’s services, Leeds could well feel they have another Calvert-Lewin style-bargain in the works, with the 6-foot-4 striker also previously lauded as an “outstanding” finisher of chances, by journalist Henry Winter, much like the number nine ageing like a fine wine under Farke.
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