In a video from the One Leeds Fan Channel, 90min reporter Graeme Bailey gave a detailed transfer update on Leeds United, including an insight to the potential deal for PSG striker Arnaud Kalimuendo, a young talent that has been part of the Paris side’s pre-season preparation.
Patrick Bamford’s injury problems highlighted Leeds’ lack of depth up front, and while Joe Gelhardt impressed both in the Premier League and during the pre-season tour in Australia, he isn’t seen by many to be a solution to the problem. Enter Kalimuendo.
“The broad principle of the deal is agreed but as with a lot of these deals, agreeing the fee can sometimes be the easiest bit… in Leeds’ case here, agreeing the terms with PSG isn’t an issue but he’s come back from pre-season and performed very well, Christophe Galtier’s come in and likes what he sees.”
It has been previously reported that Leeds had met PSG’s £21 million valuation of the player and Bailey also suggesting this would make one believe that the deal must be very close. However, a new manager and a quality pre-season could potentially throw a spanner in the works.
Kalimuendo celebrates scoring for Lens / REUTERS/Stephane Mahe
“There’s a lot of interest in this lad as well, Newcastle are hovering and I think there’s a few more as well. So yeah, it’s not off, it’s just purely stalled. I don’t see him starting the season with PSG… if … PSG don’t want to sell him it may turn into a loan at some point.”
“The good thing for Leeds is Ekiteke’s gone in there and obviously he’s going to have first dibs on a first team spot ahead of [Kalimuendo] so he’s got an awful lot to do to get even near this PSG team. And I think it’ll just be what we see in England, he’s spending the summer with PSG’s first team and then he’ll go out. I just think this is delaying things, I do think Leeds have got a little bit of a battle to persuade him.”
Hugo Ekiteke could well be the key to this deal, as he joined PSG on loan with either an option or obligation to buy (sources differ) and is a 20-year-old striker. He’s highly-rated, after scoring 11 goals last year, and a new signing is always likely to be higher in the pecking order. The club can’t loan him out, as they signed him on a loan themselves, but they can move Kalimuendo on.
“This one as we say has stalled rather than completely off so keep an eye on this one and we do know the player is open to Leeds, this is why they went for him in the first place… They do their homework on these players so yeah, I’d keep an eye on him, obviously it’s clear that Leeds like him… and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if they get this one done, eventually.”
“Keep an eye on this one” indeed.