Why Carlos Espi and Balogun could lift Leeds attack
Leeds United are hunting striker upgrades this summer, with Monaco's Folarin Balogun linked around £40m after a strong Ligue 1 season, while Levante's Carlos Espi is reportedly heading for a mystery Premier League move that fan sites say would suit Elland Road. The Whites have already secured Harry Wilson and defender Tarik Muharemovic, and attack firepower is next on the agenda according to reports covering the club's window.
Key Takeaways
- Leeds have opened talks with Monaco for Folarin Balogun at around £40m, with competition from major European clubs.
- Balogun scored 13 Ligue 1 goals and four assists in 30 games last season, plus five Champions League goals in 10 matches.
- Carlos Espi, Levante's 21-year-old 6ft4in forward, scored 11 La Liga goals and has a £21.4m release clause.
- Journalist Matteo Moretto says Espi is "on his way" to the Premier League, though the buying club remains unnamed.
- Leeds also need depth behind Dominic Calvert-Lewin, whose 14 league goals helped the club avoid relegation.
Why has Folarin Balogun proven he can lift Leeds' attack?
According to Yahoo Sports, Balogun has scored 31 goals in 91 competitive games for AS Monaco and netted three times in four World Cup matches for the USA. The 25-year-old ranked among Ligue 1's top strikers for expected goals, shots, and box touches last season.
In 30 league games he scored 13 goals and provided four assists, with only three players scoring more in the French top flight. He also won three penalties—more than any other Ligue 1 striker per FotMob—a trait Leeds may value after winning eight spot kicks in the Premier League last season.
His Champions League form added five goals in 10 games. Contract-wise, Monaco signed him to a deal running until summer 2028, leaving less than two years on the agreement and creating a possible sales window for a club ready to negotiate.
Where does Carlos Espi fit into Leeds United's plans?
Separately, LeedsAllOver argues Leeds need a younger striker to compete with Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Carlos Espi fits that profile: 21 years old, 6ft4in, and 11 league goals for a Levante side that only scraped La Liga survival on goal difference.
Matteo Moretto reported Espi is heading to the Premier League imminently, but the destination club is still a mystery. His Levante contract includes a €25million (£21.4million) release clause, and Marca noted no formal offer has been placed yet—though Levante left him out of a recent pre-season fixture to protect him amid exit talk.
Whether Leeds are the unnamed suitor remains unconfirmed. For more transfer and mystery-angle coverage, see our True Crime & Unsolved Mysteries hub.
How close is a Balogun deal for Leeds?
LiveScore's Leeds roundup says the club have opened talks with Monaco for Balogun around £40m. Borussia Dortmund, Juventus and Atletico Madrid are also interested, and the move is described as difficult.
MOT Leeds News has also flagged a potential dressing-room wrinkle: Balogun's controversial World Cup red card came after fouling Muharemovic while playing for the USA against Bosnia. Reports suggest that dynamic would need careful handling if both join Elland Road.
For now, Leeds' attack rebuild remains fluid—Balogun as a proven Premier League-ready upgrade, and Carlos Espi as a high-upside mystery option circling English football.