Leeds United Exploring Swap Deal for £40m Striker

Leeds United are exploring a swap deal to sign Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Jorgen Strand Larsen during the January transfer window, according to Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Graham Smyth. Leeds are expected to be active before the February 2 deadline as the 49ers look to strengthen a squad currently sitting 16th in the Premier League standings. For two successive seasons, the three promoted clubs from the Championship have suffered relegation, with the Whites and Sunderland in particular looking more well-equipped to avoid the same fate this term. The Yorkshire club may need further strengthening though, even after the addition of Brighton forward Facundo Buonanotte following the cancellation of his loan at Chelsea. Leeds Make Strand Larsen Enquiry After Buonanotte, it appears that despite reported talks to sign Werder Bremen midfielder Romano Schmid as per Fabrizio Romano, Leeds' priority instead is to bring in a new centre-forward for Farke. According to Smyth, the Yorkshire outfit have made contact over a deal to sign Strand Larsen from rock-bottom Wolverhampton Wanderers in their search for a new target man to provide competition to Dominic Calvert-Lewin. However, with Wolves ready to demand considerably more than the £26m they paid to sign the Norwegian striker, according to GIVEMESPORT sources, Leeds will need to get creative to bring the 6 ft 4 front man to Elland Road. The Whites will need to structure any potential deal in a way that means the club doesn't fall foul of PSR, with a loan-to-buy deal one preferred option for Leeds. However, they could also explore including a fringe player to Wolves as makeweight in a move, with the Midlands club looking almost certain to need experienced Championship players next year as they look destined for the drop. According to Smyth, Wolves are yet to make a decision on their stance on Leeds' interest in the 25-year-old as the window ticks down. Strand Larsen Would be Useful Addition While Calvert-Lewin has been in stunning form for Leeds in recent weeks, you can never have enough goals in your side. The Whites don't really have a natural alternative to the former Everton striker in their squad at the moment, and being able to use both Calvert-Lewin and Strand Larsen for the remainder of the season would give Farke and their survival hopes a major boost. Whether Wolves would really be willing to do a deal with a relegation rival is another thing altogether, with Leeds' offer of a fringe player needing to be one that actually tempts them into doing business. What Other Business Could Leeds do? As Smyth mentions, despite Romano Schmid not being a priority for Leeds right now, it can't be ruled out that the club could revisit a move later in the window. They have found their No.10 profile that Farke desperately wanted in Buonanotte, but if the price is right for the Austrian then business could be done. In the meantime, all focus in on bringing in a new striker and Strand Larsen is a prime target.