Leeds United’s summer has already delivered one attacking statement in Harry Wilson, but the sense around Elland Road is that Daniel Farke’s forward line is not finished yet. With the Premier League campaign looming and the transfer window still open until 1 September, the next few weeks could define whether Leeds simply consolidate or take a genuine step forward.

Why Leeds Still Need More in Attack

Wilson’s arrival on a free transfer from Fulham was smart business. He brings Premier League experience, set-piece quality, creativity from wide and central areas, and a proven end product after an excellent final season at Craven Cottage. But Leeds still look light if the aim is to build a squad capable of avoiding second-season stagnation.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin carried a heavy burden last season, while Lukas Nmecha and Noah Okafor added useful output. The issue is not that Leeds lack attackers entirely; it is that they need more variety, more reliability, and more threat from the bench. Injuries, form dips and tactical tweaks across a long season make another forward or creative player feel less like a luxury and more like a necessity.

Igor Paixao: The Name That Will Not Go Away

The most interesting name back on the radar is Igor Paixao. Leeds wanted him before, and the Brazilian winger remains the sort of profile that would excite supporters: direct, quick, creative and capable of playing off the left with real goal threat.

Paixao joined Marseille after Leeds’ previous interest, but his future appears open again. Marseille’s financial position and lack of Champions League football have created uncertainty, and Leeds have reportedly kept him among their attacking options after missing out on Julian Brandt.

As a fit, he makes plenty of sense. Paixao would give Farke a winger who can carry the ball, isolate full-backs and add a different type of danger to Wilson’s more technical, drifting style. The concern is price. Marseille are unlikely to let him go cheaply, and Leeds will have to decide whether this is the attacking deal worth stretching for.

Julian Brandt Was the Sliding Doors Moment

Julian Brandt felt like the most ambitious and elegant attacking idea of Leeds’ summer. Available after leaving Borussia Dortmund, the German playmaker would have added class, vision and a genuine No.10 presence between midfield and attack.

Instead, Brandt chose Ajax, leaving Leeds to move down the list. That does not mean the recruitment process failed, but it does show the level of player Leeds were prepared to target. The club clearly wanted more creativity, not just another body in the squad.

Brandt’s decision also explains why Paixao’s name has resurfaced. The two are different players, but both would raise the technical ceiling of the attack. Brandt would have been the conductor. Paixao would be the accelerator.

Nicolo Tresoldi: The Young Striker Option

With Carlos Espi now off the table after his move to Real Madrid, Leeds have been linked with another young striker in Nicolo Tresoldi. The German youth international has the sort of profile that fits a club looking to build depth without signing a short-term stopgap.

Tresoldi is physically strong, mobile and still developing. He would not necessarily arrive as the immediate main man ahead of Calvert-Lewin, but he could be groomed as competition and eventual succession planning. That may appeal to Leeds if they want a younger forward who can grow in value rather than an expensive senior striker with limited resale potential.

The challenge is competition. Young strikers with European pedigree rarely go unnoticed, and if bigger clubs are sniffing around, Leeds may need to offer a very clear pathway to minutes.

Carlos Espi: One That Got Away

Carlos Espi looked like a clever option before Real Madrid moved decisively. The Levante striker had been admired by Leeds, and his release clause made him a realistic target on paper. But once Madrid entered the picture, that door effectively closed.

His situation matters because it tells us what Leeds are looking for: a younger forward with upside, physical tools and the ability to challenge the existing striker group. Missing out on Espi does not mean Leeds will stop searching in that lane. It may simply push them toward alternatives such as Tresoldi or another emerging centre-forward.

Roony Bardghji and the Loan Market

Another intriguing name is Roony Bardghji. A loan from Barcelona would be a different type of move: high upside, lower long-term control, and potentially ideal if Leeds want explosive attacking depth without committing huge money.

Bardghji is a winger with flair and technical quality, but any deal would depend on Barcelona’s plans and the player’s appetite for Premier League minutes. For Leeds, this kind of signing could make sense if the permanent market becomes too expensive. A loan with an option, if achievable, would be particularly attractive.

Rafael Leao: Glamorous, But Unrealistic

Rafael Leao being offered around to Premier League clubs, including Leeds, is the sort of rumour that makes fans double-take. On pure ability, he is Champions League-level. Powerful, explosive and capable of winning games almost by himself, he would be one of the most eye-catching signings in Leeds’ modern history.

But this feels more like market noise than a genuine Leeds move. The wages, transfer fee and overall financial package would be enormous. There is also the tactical question of whether Leeds would want to reshape their attacking structure around a player of that profile. It is fun to imagine, but difficult to see advancing.

What Type of Attacker Makes Most Sense?

Leeds’ best move may not be the biggest name. What Farke really needs is a player who adds one of three things: a direct left-sided threat, a creative No.10, or a young striker who can push Calvert-Lewin without demanding to start every week.

That is why Paixao feels like the most exciting realistic option, Tresoldi like the most strategic option, and Bardghji like the most opportunistic option. Each would solve a slightly different problem.

Wilson has already improved the attacking unit, but Leeds still need another player who changes games. The difference between finishing comfortably mid-table and being dragged into trouble can often be five or six extra goals from unexpected places. That is what the next signing has to provide.

The Verdict: Paixao Would Be the Statement, Tresoldi the Smart Play

If Leeds want to make a statement, Igor Paixao is the one. He would bring pace, personality and proven attacking output from wide areas. If the price can be brought into range, he looks like the most natural fit for what the squad still lacks.

If the club wants to think longer-term, Nicolo Tresoldi may be the smarter play. A young striker with room to grow would give Leeds depth now and upside later.

Either way, the message is clear: Leeds have done good work, but the attack still needs one more piece. With Wilson already through the door and Brandt gone elsewhere, the next move will tell us how ambitious this summer really is.