Leeds United transfers as free-scoring striker eyed by Premier League and European clubs

Leeds United are reportedly looking to tie down Under-21s striker Carrick Njinko amid transfer interest from the Premier League and Europe.

Njinko has burst onto the scene this season, scoring 11 goals in 13 matches across the age groups. The 18-year-old has brilliantly shouldered the goalscoring burden following fellow teenager Harry Gray’s loan move to Sheffield Wednesday.

This season is actually Njinko’s first as an out-and-out striker, his move from a more wide position proving a genius one. But the youngster’s incredible form has inevitably attracted transfer interest from rival clubs.

According to Daily Mail reporter Tom Collomosse, top clubs in the Premier League and across Europe are interested in Njinko, whose current Leeds contract expires at the end of this season. The Whites are obviously keen to keep their prospect with contract talks underway.

Collomosse wrote on X: “Leeds attacker Carrick Njinko attracting interest from PL and top European clubs. Has 11 goals in 13 games for Leeds’ age-group sides. Talks ongoing between Leeds and the 18-year old, whose deal expires in the summer. Leeds want him to stay.”

Leeds will hope to avoid a repeat of similar recent situations in which young prospects have moved to more established Premier League clubs. The Whites lost Oliver Boast last year, the teenage striker going on to score 16 goals in just 12 games to Tottenham’s age-group sides.

Midfielder Finlay Gorman was another to move on recently, joining Manchester City as a 15-year-old in a £1.5million deal that could rise to £5m. That was a British record for a player of that age at the time.

Leeds will hope Njinko decides to stay put in West Yorkshire having enjoyed a quite brilliant start to the season. The youngster came flying out of the blocks back in August, scoring a hat-trick on the opening day of the Premier League 2 campaign in a 4-3 win over West Brom.

Those goals were Njinko’s first since moving into the Under-21s from the Under-18s but he’s taken the step up in his stride. After that opening-game hat-trick, the teenager discussed what it was like moving up the age groups.

“It is a lot more physical, difficult, more running,” he said. “You are playing against older players and it is good.

“It is good for you as well because it gives you experience and gets you ready for men’s football. Like Boreham Wood the other day, it was a difficult first half but it is valuable experience for us.”