Leeds United reportedly sign Pierre-Michel Lasogga on loan from Hamburg

Leeds United appear to have done at least a little business towards landing a replacement for Chris Wood. Reports out of Germany indicate that Hamburger SV striker Pierre-Michel Lasogga has agreed to a year-long loan move from the Bundesliga club to Elland Road.

The biggest stumbling block towards his signing has always been his wages, which are rumored to be £50,000 per week, which breaks the budget at Leeds United and really any Championship club, even the parachute payment clubs.

Hamburg were keen for Lasogga to move on, as he was no longer in their plans, despite having an impressive first season with them. Lasogga scored 13 goals in 20 appearances with Hamburg his first season at the club, and while he’s never gotten to that rate again for them, a change of scenery might do him some good. He was also on a loan move to Hamburg that year, eager to prove himself, and while this isn’t necessarily the same kind of situation, Leeds does give him an opportunity to prove that he isn’t just a one-trick pony who only has one good season in him.

The other important thing to remember with this signing, if the reports coming out of Germany are true, that this is only a loan deal. If Lasogga doesn’t work out here, he can return to Hamburg and Leeds are out only his wages. And while the wages might be high, Victor Orta will likely figure out a way to be able to afford them in the current structure or Hamburg will subsidize them to a degree that Leeds will find acceptable.

So will the club get the Lasogga who was on loan at Hamburg from Hertha Berlin who helped the Bundesliga club avoid relegation? Or will Leeds get the Lasogga who scored one goal in 20 appearances last season for Hamburg? Time will tell, but if he doesn’t work out, the at least Leeds won’t be out a transfer fee.