Leeds United are reportedly among the clubs interested in securing the services of Lazio forward Vedat Muriqi, who is expected to leave the club.
According to La Lazio Siamo Noi, Vedat Muriqi is set for a move away from Lazio in January. The Serie A giants are keen on offloading some of their fringe players in an attempt to land new targets in the market. One of the players likely to leave the club is Muriqi, which has put several clubs on alert, including Leeds United.
Formerly of Fenerbahce, Muriqi joined Lazio in the summer of 2020 for a fee of €20 million. It was a significant investment from Lazio for a player who had a track record of scoring 37 goals in 112 matches.
Unfortunately for Lazio, the 27-year-old has not been able to replicate his performances in Serie A. He notably scored one goal during his first season at the club, falling behind Joaquin Correa and Ciro Immobile in the pecking order.
Things have not improved much in the new season despite the summer exit of Correa, with Muriqi featuring in just over 200 minutes of league football and mustering a total of just one start. His struggles in the senior side have now compelled Lazio to cash in on him in the ongoing January transfer window.
Leeds United are hoping to take advantage of Muriqi’s precarious situation at the Serie A club in an attempt to fuel their offensive unit. The Whites have struggled this season in light of Patrick Bamford’s injury woes, while the likes of Tyler Roberts and Rodrigo Moreno have failed to live up to the expectations.
Despite Muriqi’s dismal performances in Serie A, Marcelo Bielsa believes the 27-year-old has what it takes to thrive in the Premier League. His towering 1.94m frame coupled with his physical prowess make him an excellent target-man, although Leeds are exploring other options as well.
The Yorkshire outfit were most recently linked with a move for emerging FC Barcelona starlet Ferran Jutgla. However, it remains to be seen whether the Catalan giants intend to sell the youngster to Leeds in the middle of a season.
