Leeds United looking to pry Jonathan Kodjia from cash-strapped Aston Villa?

Leeds United has been looking for a permanent option at striker since Chris Wood left the club last August for Burnley. The club had hoped that Hamburger SV loanee Pierre-Michel Lasogga would be able to recapture his previous skills that saw him almost make the Germany team for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, but his time at Elland Road saw him fit and a play as a decent striker for about six weeks after joining and another six weeks after being out injured for almost two months. He returned to Germany after his loan was over and has been missed by no one at Leeds.

The club also brought in Pawel Cibicki from Malmo FF, Caleb Ekuban from Chievo Verona, and Jay-Roy Grot from NEC, but none of them worked out at all either. Grot and Cibicki have already gone out on loan and it has been reported that Ekuban could also be on his way out as well.

Kemar Roofe, who was already on the roster, seemed to be the best option for Leeds at striker last season, but too often he went missing and doesn’t seem to be a fit as a lone striker in the Championship.

Could Leeds have found a new option at striker? Our friends at 7500 to Holte seem to think that Leeds United could be in for a move for Aston Villa’s Jonathan Kodjia.

Aston Villa’s financial problems have been well-documented, and while it doesn’t seem like they want Kodjia to leave, he’s a valuable asset that can be sold for desperately needed cash. There are other players on the team that Villa fans would probably like to see go before Kodjia, such as Scott Hogan, but without a firm guarantee of funding without player sales, Villa might not have very many options.

Kodjia had a brilliant 2016-17, but was injured for much of the season last year and didn’t have the same impact. He is, however, highly rated by Villa fans and he would look great playing up front for Leeds.

The question is, does this mean that a deal for Matej Vydra is now dead? Leeds were also linked with Britt Assombalonga today, meaning that either these rumours are floating to put pressure on Derby County to sell, or perhaps an audacious plot to land multiple targets. Either way, it looks like Villa may be forced to sell and Leeds could land a cut-price deal for a quality striker.