Leeds United Scout Croatian 17-Goal Striker: Is He Calvert-Lewin Cover?

Leeds United Scout Croatian 17-Goal Striker: Is He Calvert-Lewin Cover? Leeds United have a problem in the final third. Daniel Farke’s side have conceded eight league goals in 10 games, the third-best record in the Premier League, but they have scored only 10, and only Nottingham Forest and Sunderland have found the net less often. A 1-0 home win over Tottenham last Saturday, settled by Noah Okafor’s late goal, ended a five-game winless run and lifted Leeds into the top half on 14 points, yet five of their 10 games have still finished as draws. The burden falls heavily on Dominic Calvert-Lewin. The 29-year-old scored 14 league goals last season but has only three this term, and his fitness record never lets Leeds relax, with Transfermarkt counting nearly 600 days lost to injury between 2018-19 and last summer. Lukas Nmecha and Okafor offer cover in Farke’s 3-5-2, which asks two strikers to share the work. Manchester United have added a complication, with The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell reporting that they are considering Calvert-Lewin in a January striker search, though he called a move remote and Leeds reportedly want him on a new contract. Scouts at the Stadium of Light That need took Leeds to Sunderland on 5 November, according to Graeme Bailey’s exclusive in TEAMtalk . Leeds and Newcastle United both sent top scouts to watch Dinamo Zagreb win 2-0 in the Europa League, and Croatian striker Dion Beljo scored. The 24-year-old now has 17 goals in 17 games this season and 115 in his career. Newcastle want to add to Matthias Jaissle’s attack alongside Yoan Wissa and William Osula. Manchester United , Tottenham, Everton, Brighton, Brentford and Sunderland themselves are also tracking him. Dinamo, who hold him on a contract until 2030, can hold out for a fee reported at around £21m. Beljo’s profile explains the interest. Being 6ft 5in and left-footed, he scored 31 league goals last season as Dinamo won the title. Rapid Vienna’s sporting director Markus Katzer called him agile for his size, technically gifted and good at holding the ball up. Doubts remain. Most of his goals have come in Croatia; he never established himself at Augsburg, and Premier League physicality is untested. Should Leeds United make Beljo their January priority? SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 05: Dion Beljo of GNK Dinamo Zagreb chases the ball during the UEFA Europa League 2026/27 League Phase MD4 match between Sunderland AFC and GNK Dinamo at Stadium of Light on November 05, 2026 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images) Yes, but only at the right price, because Leeds United need a striker plan rather than a headline signing. Calvert-Lewin and Beljo share a similar profile, so this wouldn’t pair contrasting strengths. It would be insurance, and Farke can’t build a season around a striker who has missed so much football. Beljo’s hold-up play suits a 3-5-2 whose wing-backs need time to arrive, and his goals would ease the shortage that has turned too many Leeds games into draws. The risk is cost. Manchester United and Tottenham can outbid almost anyone, and Leeds shouldn’t stretch beyond that valuation for a player with one outstanding season and an unsettled spell in Germany behind him. If Dinamo hold firm, a quicker forward who runs in behind would suit Farke better. Leeds have scored 10 goals in 10 league games, and a second target man adds goals only if somebody creates the chances for him.