Leeds United are reportedly interested in signing Fenerbahce striker Mergim Berisha, who has previously worked with Jesse Marsch.
According to Turkish publication Spor, Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch is considering a reunion with former protege Mergim Berisha who plies his trade with Fenerbahce.
A product of the Red Bull Salzburg academy, Berisha went on to make 58 senior appearances for the Austrian giants, of which 52 came under Marsch, with the striker scoring 23 goals in those matches. The 24-year-old striker left the club in the summer of last year, moving to Turkey where he joined Fenerbahce.
In his first year in Turkey, the former German Under-21 international featured 31 times across all competitions, managing a tally of seven goals and three assists. While those numbers are not exactly prolific, it seems like Berisha has done enough to convince his former mentor, Marsch, to consider a reunion this summer.
Leeds United have been one of the most active teams in the summer window so far, having made several interesting acquisitions including former Bayern Munich midfielder Marc Roca and Tyler Adams from RB Leipzig, among others. But the business is far from done at Elland Road, as the Whites are still looking for a new striker.
Leeds United struggled last season when Patrick Bamford was out sidelined with an injury. Youngsters Joe Gelhardt and Sam Greenwood have shown potential but cannot be entrusted with covering for Bamford at the highest level. So, adding another striker has become a priority for Marsch and Leeds United.
The Yorkshire-based outfit have been working on a deal to sign Arnaud Kalimuendo from PSG, but a move could be difficult to achieve as the Ligue 1 champions could be open to keeping the striker at the club. Hence, it bodes well for Leeds to keep their options open, with Berisha emerging as a potential alternative for the Whites to consider.
Berisha is not the most prolific striker around but the 24-year-old has experience at the highest level and is a player that the manager knows well. Marsch managed to get him firing on all cylinders during their association at Salzburg and could repeat the trick at Elland Road, should Leeds be able to sign him up.
Berisha has a contract with Fenerbahce that runs until 2025, meaning that the Turkish giants could demand a sizeable fee for his services. It remains to be seen if Marsch and Leeds decide to push for the striker’s signing or look at other options.