Leeds United this week closed in on a club-record deal with James Trafford, with the deal expected to be worth more than £40m.
The Manchester City goalkeeper is expected to replace Karl Darlow as Daniel Farke’s number one for the upcoming Premier League season, as the Welshman’s contract expires earlier this month.
The 49ers may turn their attention to improving quality at the top end of the pitch after the England international officially completes his move to Elland Road.
The Whites could look to strengthen their squad with another option at centre-forward to give Dominic Calvert-Lewin more space.
Why Leeds need to compete for Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Farke will need more competition as an England international, as Lucas Nmeka hasn’t performed well enough to suggest he can start and be effective in the Premier League.
The German striker came off the bench against Tuimes and scored six goals in total, but he only scored four non-penalty goals in 31 appearances in the top flight last season.
25/26PL | completion | Calvert Lewin |
|---|---|---|
Appearance | 31 | 35 |
xG | 7.23 | 15.81 |
the goal | 6 | 14 |
non-penalty goal | 4 | 11 |
assist | 1 | 1 |
Duels won per match | 2.2 | 5.3 |
Calvert-Lewin was more effective in the number nine role for the West Yorkshire side, scoring seven more non-penalty goals in the Premier League and winning over 3.1 duels per game.
The former Everton strikers are unlikely to challenge Nmeka for a place in the squad given their respective performances last season, although both underperformed as finishers.
The poor performance in front of goal suggests that it is worth considering the possibility of bringing in another centre-forward who can contribute as a more quality finisher in the final third, in order to make the most of the chances the team creates.
How Leeds could sign Calvert and Lewin upgrades
Currently, the club are already considering players who could arrive at Elland Road as a challenger to Calvert-Lewin, who they need in their squad next term.
Yorkshire Evening Post reporter Graham Smith has revealed that Leeds United have identified Levante’s No. 9 Carlos Espi as their new target in the summer transfer window.
The journalist claims that the Spanish centre-forward is one of a number of players on the club’s shortlist, but that the club have not yet entered into negotiations or made a bid for his signature.
Reports on the Continent recently revealed that the 21-year-old attacker has a €25m (£21m) release clause in his contract with the Spanish side, indicating the amount Los Blancos will have to pay him.
The 49ers should seriously consider signing the Spanish star after completing the deal with Trafford. That’s because he could be the perfect signing to challenge for Calvert-Lewin’s position.
Espi’s form in the 2025/26 season with Levante in La Liga suggests he has the qualities and potential to be even more prolific than the English marksman at Elland Road.
25/26 season | Espi (Liga) | Calvert-Lewin (PL) |
|---|---|---|
Appearance | twenty five | 35 |
xG | 7.58 | 15.81 |
the goal | 11 | 14 |
xG differential | +3.42 | -1.81 |
time per goal | one two three | 195 |
missed a big opportunity | 10 | 20 |
Duel success rate | 48% | 39% |
The Spain U20 international was far more clinical at league level last season, returning 11 goals from just 7.58 xG, while Calvert-Lewin underperformed by almost two goals against xG.
It took Espy fewer minutes and quality chances to find the back of the net for Levante in La Liga than the Englishman needed for Leeds in the Premier League.
What makes the Spaniard’s goalscoring record even more impressive is that he didn’t need a single penalty to reach his 11 goals. This coincides with Calvert-Lewin’s non-penalty goal return time at league level being 1376 minutes shorter.
Scoring six goals in Liga 2 in 2024/25, Espi would be a very exciting addition to Farke’s team as a challenger for the No. 9 role, having shown that he can provide consistent quality in one of Europe’s major leagues.
While the 21-year-old could be Calvert-Lewin’s long-term successor in the Whites’ front line, he could also replace him in the short term as he is even more prolific than the former Everton man.
That’s why the board should move to bring him to Elland Road in the coming weeks, before the transfer window closes in September.
