Rykte om ny italiener.... Samuel Di Carmine.
Leeds interested in January deal for six-goal Italian striker, formerly of QPR.
Leeds United have been linked with Sassuolo striker Leonardo Pavoletti for months now, but with the Italian centre forward watching the Whites in their defeat to Wigan Athletic on Boxing Day, it seems that a deal is drawing ever closer.
Pavoletti, 26, is likely to be seen as a replacement for Matt Smith, who left Elland Road for Fulham in September, with manager Neil Redfearn needing more of a target man figure.
Steve Morison has struggled to make an impact ever since his 2013 move from Norwich, and with sporting director Nicola Salerno's ability to lure players from Italy to West Yorkshire, a deal for Pavoletti seems like being a foregone conclusion.
However, new reports from transfer insider Gianluca Di Marzio suggest that Leeds have another Italian target in mind - Samuel Di Carmine.
Di Carmine, 26, has racked up six goals and four assists in the Italian third tier this season, and his exploits have attracted interest not only from Leeds but from a number of other clubs in Italy.
The former Fiorentina striker is known for his loan spell with Queens Park Rangers during the 2008-09 season, where he scored twice in 27 outings for the West London side.
Di Carmine is now older, wiser and able to have a greater effect on games - but to Leeds really need him?
A more skillful player than the incoming Pavoletti, Di Carmine would be in direct competition with Pavoletti, Mirco Antenucci, Souleymane Doukara and Billy Sharp, which could spark rumours that the latter may leave in the January transfer window.
HITC Sport