Bundesliga striker Marvin Ducksch linked with Leeds United

It’s getting to be silly season once again.

Another Bundesliga striker has been linked with a move to Leeds United. The current rumour is that on-loan Holstein Kiel striker Marvin Ducksch was watched by Leeds United scouts during a recent match. And with the club still seeking an adequate replacement for Chris Wood, it’s no surprise that the club is still looking for striker options.

The 23-year old Ducksch started out his career at Borussia Dortmund, and while at the Bundesliga giants he was coached at Dortmund II by none other than current Huddersfield Town manager David Wagner. As he rose up in the ranks at Dortmund, after tearing up the youth ranks, his career seemed to stall and he was sent out on loan to SC Paderborn.

After returning to Dortmund from Paderborn, he once again spent time with Dortmund II before transferring to FC St. Pauli, but once again the young striker was sent out on loan, this time to Holstein Kiel, where he helped the third division side earn promotion last season, earning another loan to the 2.Bundesliga side. This season he’s scored 11 goals in 16 appearances, so he’s got a pretty decent scoring record in the 2.Bundesliga this season.

Kiel is a 6’3” forward who plays as a classic striker, using his heading ability to win the ball and hold up play, rather than being a dynamic player with the ball at his feet. Leeds have focused buying players such as Paweł Cibicki and Jay-Roy Grot who can also play as wingers, rather than focusing on a traditional number 9, so this would be a change of pace for the club, and that might be a good thing. When Hamburger SV loanee Pierre-Michel Lasogga has been good for Leeds, it’s been when he has been a centre-forward winning balls in the box, and when he’s been off his pace, the team has looked poor going forward. And while Kemar Roofe has filled in with loads of pace and tracking back, there still is a place for a classic number 9 at Leeds, and no matter how many times Thomas Christiansen puts Grot up top, Grot has not looked even close to being able to score a goal.

So how likely is this rumour? Well, Leeds rumours usually start overseas these days, and Leeds scouts might have been in attendance to see the young player in person. However, given that Ducksch’s career has stalled a couple different times, unless he’s suddenly put it all together at 23, the Championship is likely going to be a jump in quality. However, it wouldn’t be surprising for the club to look for another striker in January, so I’ll put the chances at this rumour being true at about 35%.