'Told Leeds...' - Journalist now drops update on £22m Orta striker pursuit

Leeds United have been told to pay £22million for Paris Saint-Germain striker Arnaud Kalimuendo, according to CBS Sports journalist Ben Jacobs. 

The Athletic’s Phil Hay wrote at the start of this month that Leeds ‘have had an eye on’ Kalimuendo throughout the summer window.

Hay says Jesse Marsch and Leeds are ‘still waiting for a striker’ as they look to round off their business.

Kalimuendo came through the youth ranks at PSG and has spent the last two seasons on loan at Lens.

He’s competing with the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Mauro Icardi and new signing Hugo Ekitike for minutes in the French capital.

‘PSG have told Leeds they value Kalimuendo at £22m,’ Jacobs wrote on his Twitter page.

There’s ‘growing interest’ in the forward, with fellow Ligue 1 outfit Rennes ready to battle for his signature.

Luis Campos, Football Advisor at the Parc des Princes, is ‘happy to sell now’, whereas manager Christophe Galtier is ‘not as content’.

He has built a ‘strong early relationship’ with the youngster and would prefer the club to offload Icardi first.

That certainly seems like a fair price for Kalimuendo if Leeds can get the deal done.

He’s under contract at PSG for another two years, so they’re still in a decent position, and he’s only 20 years old.

What’s more, his track record is very strong too. He scored 12 Ligue 1 goals in 34 appearances at Lens last season, averaging one every 181 minutes.

He also looks like he’s on the path to becoming a full French international, having struck four times in 12 caps for the Under-21s.

Similar in profile to Arnaut Danjuma, Luis Suarez and new West Ham signing Gianluca Scamacca, Kalimuendo features on the Golden Boy shortlist for 2022.

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