Nmecha repeat: Leeds frontrunners in race to sign "spectacular" £22m star
da bet7： Elland Road will have to be a fortress in the Premier League this season for Leeds United to survive at the first time of asking.
da casino： The last eight opening fixtures in the top-flight that had fallen at the hallowed turf, building up to Monday night’s clash with Everton, had seen the Whites pick up five wins and collect zero defeats. Thankfully, that impressive trend continued against David Moyes’ Toffees, as a slender 1-0 win was secured.
It could have been more emphatic on another night, as Leeds boasted 2.13 xG come the full-time whistle, having registered 21 efforts in total at Jordan Pickford’s busy net.
But, it would end up just being a slim victory for Daniel Farke’s side – not that anyone packed into Elland Road cared – courtesy of Lukas Nmecha stroking home a penalty with some confidence, considering it was his debut in West Yorkshire.
Nmecha's standout debut performance
Nmecha will be remembered for some time now as the figure who officially got Leeds’ 2025/26 season up and running as he placed a spot-kick with ease past Pickford.
The former Wolfsburg attacker would only go on to amass ten touches of the ball from his inspired 13-minute cameo, with the German’s fifth touch of the ball being the decisive moment that broke the deadlock.
Amazingly, during his entire debut season in Germany for his past employers, he wouldn’t break his duck.
In his fresh English surroundings, however, he has that monkey off his back, as Nmecha now hopes he can be an effective utility option all campaign long, with the 26-year-old capable of slotting into Farke’s XI up top – like he managed against the Toffees – as well as down either flank.
A dream opening day in the difficult division won’t stop Leeds dead in their tracks when it comes to sealing more late deals before September’s deadline, however, with a Nmecha repeat potentially on the cards if Farke and Co. can strike up a £22m move in time.
Leeds frontrunners to sign £22m star
Nmecha managed to bask in the limelight of being Leeds’ goalscorer on the night, with other brand new recruit Dominic Calvert-Lewin absent from the side altogether.
The former Everton attacker will no doubt get his own opportunities to impress down the line, but Leeds don’t look to be done and dusted just yet when it comes to trying to add more exciting attackers to their ever-growing squad.
Indeed, Leeds are very close to welcoming in another standout summer addition in the form of Noah Okafor, with a deal now in place for the AC Milan attacker to move to English shores for a fee around the £18m mark, as per Fabrizio Romano on X.
On top of that, another update states that Leeds is well-positioned to land another exciting attacking option, this time from La Liga.
Spanish outlet Carrusel Deportivo has revealed that Leeds could soon welcome Getafe ace Christantus Uche to Elland Road, having been noted as being in a favourable spot to do so, with Brentford also interested in the £22m forward’s services.
Further reports also suggest that even more of Leeds’ Premier League foes in Wolverhampton Wanderers and Sunderland are keen, with the Whites fearful that Regis Le Bris’ men could pip them to yet another coveted signature this summer.
Fresh off scoring on the opening day in La Liga himself, Leeds will pray they can get a deal over the line for Uche – amid all this competition for his services – as they attempt to win another version of Nmecha.
Why Uche can be a Nmecha repeat
It is, of course, too early in his Leeds career to suggest he will be a rip-roaring success, but Nmecha couldn’t have made a better first impression if he tried.
Uche also raced out of the blocks with blistering speed for Getafe last time out, with a goal and an assist coming his way versus Celta Vigo, continuing his stunning ascent with his Spanish employers.
Before linking up with José Bordalás’ side, the Nigerian attacker was plying his trade in the lower depths of Spanish football with third-tier outfit AD Ceuta FC.
Now, he looks to be on the brink of a move to the Premier League, having turned into a “spectacular” asset in La Liga, as he was dubbed by Bordalás himself.
Uche’s Getafe record by position
Position
Games
Goals + Assists
CF
19
4 + 4
AM
13
0 + 3
SS
3
0
LW
1
0 + 1
LM
1
1 + 0
Sourced by Transfermarkt
From just 39 appearances and counting for Getafe, the adaptable Nigerian has chipped in with a bumper five goals and eight assists, with Uche also lining up in five different positions for his side when needed.
Nmecha also offered this same level of flexibility for Wolfsburg, having been noted previously for his ability to play in “so many different positions” by former boss Nico Kovac.
Much like Uche, the ex-Wolfsburg number ten had a knack for launching himself into any forthcoming XI in a whole host of different roles, with three career goals even coming his way down the right flank for the Bundesliga giants, despite being predominantly known for his strengths as a centre-forward, where 14 strikes were registered.
Both players could be worthwhile bodies to have around the building, therefore, with Nmecha already proving his worth as an impact substitute when sending Elland Road into raptures versus Moyes’ men.
Farke will hope he will be able to wax lyrical about Uche in a similar manner very soon, with the 22-year-old not perturbed by the bright lights of La Liga whatsoever during his Getafe stay.
The Premier League shouldn’t unnerve him either, hopefully, as the German just goes about tweaking here and there to try and give his underdogs the best fighting chance at instant survival.
