Leeds United resist Baggies' and Blades' interest in top scorer Roofe

Leeds United plan to resist any approaches for Kemar Roofe following claims that the forward's former club West Bromwich Albion are considering bidding for him.
Kemar Roofe. PIC: Jonathan GawthorpeKemar Roofe. PIC: Jonathan Gawthorpe
Kemar Roofe. PIC: Jonathan Gawthorpe

West Brom, where Roofe began his career, and Sheffield United are being credited with an interest in the 25-year-old despite Leeds head coach Marcelo Bielsa including him in his plans for next season.

Roofe finished last term as United’s top scorer with 14 goals and has two years left on the contract he agreed when Leeds paid £3m to buy him from Oxford United in 2016.

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The YEP understands that Blackburn Rovers are among the sides with an eye on Roofe following their promotion from League One last season but Leeds do not intend to sell and expect him to be part of Bielsa’s squad in the Championship.

Marcelo BielsaMarcelo Bielsa
Marcelo Bielsa

Roofe has spent the past two seasons with United, playing 88 times and scoring 17 times. He claimed two hat-tricks last term but has struggled to establish himself in his preferred central position.

Leeds are already trying to solve a shortage of forwards having failed to close negotiations with Derby County’s Matej Vydra or out-of-contract Uruguayan Abel Hernandez.

The club have turned their attention to alternative options after an increased wage demand from Vydra brought talks over his potential signing to a standstill late last week.

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United, meanwhile, have allowed academy striker Mallik Wilks to move out of Elland Road again and join League One Doncaster Rovers on a season-long loan.

Kemar RoofeKemar Roofe
Kemar Roofe

Wilks has taken up a temporary spell elsewhere for the third time in little over a year, following on from stints at Accrington Stanley and Grimsby Town last season.

The 19-year-old featured 24 times for League Two champions Accrington, largely as a substitute, but injury limited his involvement at Grimsby where he featured in just six matches.

Wilks is the ninth Leeds player to leave the club in what has become a major clear-out of surplus or junior players this summer.

Marcus Antonsson, Hadi Sacko, Luke Murphy, Eunan O’Kane and Caleb Ekuban are among the remaining senior professionals who United have made available for transfer.