£8m star tipped to leave Norwich City as Daniel Farke eye Leeds United reunion | OneFootball

Leeds United hold an interest in signing Norwich City striker Josh Sargent if they get promoted, according to a report from The Sunday Mirror (19/0, p70).

Daniel Farke is thought to be keen on a reunion with Sargent, after he signed him for the Canaries for £8m from Werder Bremen in August 2021.

The USA international netted 16 goals in 30 appearances in all competitions this season and enjoyed the best goal-scoring form of his career so far under now ex-boss David Wagner, despite an ankle injury earlier in the season that ruled him out for four months.

Norwich finished sixth after a 1-0 loss to Birmingham City on the final day, and were beaten 4-0 in the play-off final second-leg by Farke's Leeds at Elland Road, after a 0-0 first-leg draw at Carrow Road.

Sargent played just 45 minutes of that second-leg as the Canaries went in 3-0 down at half-time, but Farke is still keen to make a deal work this summer.

The Whites now face Southampton in the play-off final on May 26, with the futures of their own players and future transfer targets in the balance, based on what happens on the day at Wembley.

It is likely that Leeds would only make a move for Sargent if they do get promoted back to the Premier League, but it is not set to come cheap with his contract running until 2028.

Latest reports on Sargent's future

According to a print report from The Sunday Mirror (19/0, p70), Leeds want to lure Sargent to Elland Road, but will face strong competition for his signature.

The report also states that Premier League trio Bournemouth, Brentford and Fulham also want Sargent - so it is imperative that Farke's men secure top-flight status for 2024/25.

Darren Wincoop has claimed that the American forward is likely to be on the move this summer after Norwich's failed promotion attempt.

ThePinkUn has reported that the Whites held an interest in the 24-year-old last summer when Farke was first appointed, but a move did not come to fruition and Norwich instead tied him down to a new five-year contract extension.

A year on, and Sargent has only improved his reputation as a consistent goalscorer, after improving on the 13 goals in 40 appearances in 2022/23.

He had a tough start to life in English football, initially under Farke, as he netted just two league goals in his debut Premier League campaign in 2021/22.

The Canaries' poor form at the beginning of that season saw Farke sacked in December, but he clearly has faith in Sargent's ability to score in the top-flight as he searches for new forward options for next season.

Leeds will need a scoring striker

The Whites boast a plethora of attacking options, rated at a combined €98m by transfermarkt, but were outscored by Leicester, Southampton and Ipswich in the regular Championship season.

Patrick Bamford has been a divisive figure at Elland Road in recent seasons, and netted just eight goals in 33 league games this season and was restricted to just 15 starts through a mixture of injuries and bad form.

Joel Piroe has led the line at times as a result, but is best used behind the striker where he scored most of his 13 league goals this season, similar to Georginio Rutter who netted six league goals and notched 15 assists.

That leaves youngsters Joe Gelhardt and Mateo Joseph, who have made a combined two league starts this season and both look unlikely to force themselves into a starting spot, especially if the Whites are in the Premier League.

Sargent's fast and dynamic style would certainly suit Farke's way of playing, so it would be no shock to see him lining up in white at Elland Road next season if reports of interest carry on through the summer and Leeds are victorious at Wembley.