49ERS NOT MESSING: LEEDS SWOOP FOR "UNIQUE" £1.5M PREMIER LEAGUE STRIKER

Leeds United are now interested in signing a "unique" Premier League striker, but there could be competition for his signature from fellow promoted Championship side Burnley, according to a report.

Leeds planning for next season after sealing promotion

Leeds' promotion to the Premier League was confirmed on Monday night, courtesy of Burnley defeating Sheffield United 2-1 at Turf Moor, and they have already started to make plans for their first season back in the top flight.

Surprisingly, there have been widespread reports the 49ers are considering sacking manager Daniel Farke, perhaps in light of the fact the German has struggled during his previous stints in the Premier League with Norwich City.

Not only are the 49ers considering bringing in a new manager, but there is also a strong desire to upgrade the playing squad, and there has now been a new update surrounding the Whites' potential transfer business.

Journalist Pete O'Rourke has revealed there will be a focus on bringing in players with Premier League experience, in order to give Farke's side the best chance of avoiding the drop, and they are particularly interested in signing a new goalkeeper and striker.

Amid plans to bring in a new striker, Leeds have now swooped for Ipswich Town's George Hirst, according to a report from Football Insider, but it could be hard to prise the 26-year-old away from the Tractor Boys.

Ipswich are desperate to keep hold of Hirst, given that fellow striker Liam Delap is expected to leave this summer, and they are now keen to tie the Scot down to a new deal to extend his stay at Portman Road beyond 2027.

Burnley are also interested in signing the forward, and it remains to be seen whether Ipswich are able to ward off interest from the two soon-to-be Premier League clubs.

"Unique" Hirst is dominant in the air

The Scotland international arrived at Portman Road for just £1.5m during Ipswich's League One days, picking up 18 goals and 11 assists in 76 appearances for the club, with two of those goals coming in the Premier League this season.

Unsurprisingly, the Sheffield-born striker has found it difficult to displace Delap in the starting XI, often being utilised as a substitute, while he also missed a large portion of the season due to a knee injury.

As such, it is difficult to assess whether the former Portsmouth man would be capable of being the first-choice striker for a club with aspirations of avoiding the drop, with manager Kieran McKenna describing his skill-set as "unique".

At the very least, Hirst could be a solid option as a target man off the bench for Leeds, given that he stands at a towering 6 foot 3 and ranks in the 97th percentile for aerials won per 90 over the past year, when compared to other strikers.

2025-04-24T13:17:38Z