Double insistence Leeds United need to complete signing within next four days

Thursday’s edition of Gazzetta di Modena reported ‘time is running out’ for Leeds United to exercise their new Jerry Mbakogu purchase option.

We ignored it, because so much has been claimed about the Carpi striker and Leeds that it’s becoming a stretch.

But the same newspaper report similar on Friday, stating the Championship club need to use their signing option in the next four days. It’s also claimed Leeds United aren’t done in the striker market, and that’s despite it being stated previously by the same outlet that Matěj Vydra looks a sure thing.

Leeds have repeatedly denied a plan to sign Mbakogu to their local media, but Gazzetta di Modena have been insistent there was a new verbal agreement for a lower price, after the initial clause expired at the end of June.

It genuinely doesn’t seem like Carpi’s local newspaper is plucking this information from thin air, and the Serie B club have had confidence that personal relationships at Leeds could get the deal through.

But from a perspective of the English club, the signing looks increasingly unattractive, with Mbakogu this week going through an arthroscopy knee clean-up.

Maybe Leeds United can fulfil the favour this all seems to be about and loan the player elsewhere.

This saga has probably ended up with the striker, who is highly rated by the media covering Serie B, being talked down too much.