NafisaLeeds United may have already strengthened Daniel Farke’s squad this summer, but there is a growing feeling inside Elland Road that the rebuild is still missing one vital ingredient.
The Whites returned to the Premier League in impressive fashion last season, finishing 14th while also enjoying a memorable run to the FA Cup semi-finals.
Yet beneath the encouraging campaign was an issue that repeatedly threatened to hold them back.
Too much of the attacking responsibility rested on the shoulders of Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
The experienced striker finished as Leeds’ top scorer with 15 goals in all competitions, but consistent support from the wide areas never truly arrived. Daniel James endured a frustrating season without finding the net, while Joël Piroe struggled to replicate the form that had made him so influential during the promotion-winning campaign.
Leeds have already moved to address part of that problem by bringing Harry Wilson to Elland Road after his Fulham contract expired.
However, the recruitment team believe another explosive attacker could take Farke’s side to an entirely different level.
Behind the scenes, attention has once again turned towards a player the club failed to land previously.
According to Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna, Leeds have revived their pursuit of Igor Paixão, with the Brazilian now sitting high on the club’s attacking shortlist.
The report claims initial talks have already taken place with the winger’s representatives as the 49ers continue exploring whether a deal can be made before the transfer deadline.
Leeds’ admiration for Paixão stretches back more than a year.
The Whites attempted to sign the Brazilian during his Feyenoord spell, only for the winger to choose Marseille and the chance to play Champions League football instead.
That decision has done little to cool Leeds’ interest.
Paixão enjoyed an outstanding spell in the Netherlands, producing 39 goals in 129 appearances while helping Feyenoord win the Eredivisie title, the Dutch Cup and the Dutch Super Cup.
His sensational 2024/25 campaign saw him score 18 goals and register 19 assists in just 47 appearances, performances that earned him the Dutch Golden Shoe as the Netherlands’ Footballer of the Year.
Marseille subsequently made him the most expensive signing in the club’s history at the time, paying an initial fee of around £26 million that could rise to £30 million.
The Brazilian has continued to impress in France.
During his first season in Ligue 1, he contributed six goals and five assists in 30 league appearances while finishing the campaign with 12 goals in 42 matches across all competitions.
One of the highlights came in Europe, where he struck twice during Marseille’s emphatic 4-0 Champions League victory over Ajax.
Those performances explain why Marseille are reluctant to sell.
According to Aouna, club owner Frank McCourt wants around £43 million before even considering a transfer.
Leeds, meanwhile, are understood to value Paixão between £26 million and £30 million, leaving a significant gap of almost £13 million between the two clubs’ valuations.
For now, negotiations remain at an early stage, and there is no agreement with either Marseille or the player.
But with Leeds determined to add another game-changing attacker before the window closes, Paixão remains firmly on the radar—even if convincing Marseille to lower their demands could prove to be one of the toughest negotiations of the summer.
Nafisa
