Report: Leeds still monitoring on-fire striker, yet to meet £13m asking price

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French outlet Le Buteur have claimed Leeds United are still interested in signing Al-Sadd goal machine Baghdad Bounedjah, but The Whites and other interested parties are yet to meet his £13million asking price.

Bounedjah, 27, has continued his stunning form this season under the guidance of new manager and Barcelona legend Xavi, with seven goals in six games for Al-Sadd. He has 101 goals in 83 league and cup fixtures for the Qatar Stars League side.

The Algeria international has been loosely linked by foreign sources over the past 12 months but nothing concrete has been reported. Now, reliable outlet Le Buteur reckon Leeds are monitoring proceedings, but are yet to splash out.

Marcelo Bielsa’s two former Ligue 1 sides Lille and Marseille are also interested in Bounedjah, but none of the three clubs are yet to table an offer that Al-Sadd consider acceptable – with £13million said to be enough to land the 33-time Algeria cap.

TBR’s view – Bounedjah superb, but Leeds won’t spend that much

Indeed, Leeds did agree a deal with Wolverhampton Wanderers to sign Helder Costa on an initial loan deal before making the move permanent next summer for £15million. But that is Leeds’ biggest transfer for years.

Unless the Whites gain promotion to the Premier League ahead of next summer’s window, a move to sign Bounedjah or any players worth more than £10million is unlikely. Owner Andrea Radrizzani has recently complained about the club’s wage bill.

Bounedjah is an excellent signing and worth every penny of £13million, but Leeds cannot afford him – just yet.