Hoffenheim manager makes serious decision on Mergim Berisha with Leeds United heavily linked
Leeds United are reportedly interested in luring a striker to Elland Road in the coming weeks and one player on the Elland Road shortlist has been left out of his squad in their last two games.
Coming into the window, Daniel Farke has made it clear he expects a quiet window but last week, Farke did hint at wanting a striker. Joe Gelhardt has joined Hull City while Patrick Bamford remains out injured.
Going into Sunday’s clash against Sheffield Wednesday, it leaves Farke and Leeds with just two strikers up top. But it is understandable that Farke may want to bring in a striker before the February 3 deadline.
Plenty have been linked with a move to Leeds including Louie Barry, Dor Turgeman and more recently, Middlesbrough’s Emmanuel Latte Lath though it appears Mateusz Klich’s new side will sign Latte Lath.
Mergim Berisha not involved in Hoffenheim’s last two squads
After having a hand in 13 goals in 26 Augsburg games, Hoffenheim paid £11.6m to sign Mergim Berisha but seven games into his Hoffenheim spell in 2023-24, the Germany star suffered an ACL injury.
Berisha has since played 17 times this season but only scored once. Leeds have been linked with a move for Berisha this month, and Berisha has even changed agents in order to try and secure a January exit.
Hoffenheim are keen to loan him out but the German club would accept bids of £5.8m for Berisha, half of their initial outlay. Since Leeds links, Berisha has been left out of Hoffenheim’s last two matchday squads.
Having come on against Farke’s old side Gladbach on December 21, Berisha was not involved against Wolfsburg on January 11 and then last night there was no sign of Berisha in a 5-0 loss to Bayern Munich.
Mergim Berisha knows three players on Leeds United’s books well
Having played under Jesse Marsch at RedBull Salzburg, Berisha is a former teammate of three players at Leeds. One of which is Rasmus Kristensen, who is currently impressing out on loan at Eintracht Frankfurt.
Max Wober and Brenden Aaronson are also former teammates of Berisha. In the six months that Berisha and Aaronson shared a dressing room, the two stars combined for four goals and helped win the title.
While the Evening Post say Leeds’ interest in Berisha is merely rumours at the moment, it is easy to see why The Whites may be considering a move especially now with Gelhardt’s exit at Leeds confirmed.
