Leeds United have already seen what a difference a good striker can make in the Premier League.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin was not the signing that made everyone sit up and take notice when he arrived at Elland Road. There were questions over his injury record and whether he could get back to his best level.
But one year later, the story looks very different.
The former Everton striker became one of the most important players in Daniel Farke’s team. His goals helped Leeds stay in the Premier League, and his strong performances also helped him earn another chance with England.
Now, though, Leeds cannot afford to stand still.
The Whites need to keep improving their squad if they want to move further away from the relegation battle. Calvert-Lewin remains a key player, but bringing in another top striker could be one of the smartest moves the club makes this summer.
One name who could be worth looking at is Folarin Balogun.
The American striker is attracting interest from several clubs after an excellent season, and Leeds could see him as a player who can take their attack to another level.
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Calvert-Lewin has given Leeds a strong foundation
There is no doubt that Calvert-Lewin has changed the way Leeds play. The striker gives Farke a strong target in the final third and can bring other players into the game.
He is also a threat inside the penalty area and has shown that he can score important goals when his team needs him.
His return to form has been one of the biggest positives for Leeds. However, the club should not make the mistake of relying on one striker again. Leeds have been in this situation before.
Patrick Bamford enjoyed a brilliant first Premier League season with the club, scoring 17 goals in the campaign.
But injuries and poor form later affected his performances, and Leeds eventually found themselves struggling for goals.
The lesson for the club is simple. When you have a striker in form, you need to build around him and also have another quality option ready. That is why Balogun could make sense.
Folarin Balogun could give Leeds something different
Balogun is not the same type of striker as Calvert-Lewin, and that could actually make the pair very interesting.
Calvert-Lewin is good at holding the ball up, competing with defenders and bringing his teammates into play.
Balogun offers something different.
The American is quick, powerful and loves to attack space behind the defence. He can make runs that stretch the opposition and create more room for other attacking players.
That could be a big benefit for Farke.
Leeds have often needed more pace and movement in the final third. Adding Balogun could give them another way to hurt Premier League defenders.
His recent form also shows why clubs are paying attention.
After developing in France, Balogun has continued to improve and became a much more dangerous forward during the latest campaign. He finished the season with 19 goals in all competitions, showing that he can be a consistent threat when given confidence and regular football.
His performances for the United States at the World Cup also increased his reputation.
He scored three times during the tournament and looked confident on the biggest stage.
That is exactly the type of player Leeds should be looking at.
Leeds could finally have a striker partnership to excite fans
For years, Leeds supporters have wanted to see the club build a proper attacking unit.
The team has had good forwards in recent seasons, but there has often been a lack of consistency in front of goal.
Calvert-Lewin has helped change that.
Now, imagine having another striker who can play alongside him or replace him when needed.
Balogun could provide that option.
Farke used two forwards together during parts of last season, so the idea of Calvert-Lewin and Balogun playing in the same team is not impossible.
It would give Leeds more attacking options and make the team harder to predict.
Calvert-Lewin could use his physical strength to occupy defenders, while Balogun could look to run into the spaces created around him.
That could become a very dangerous partnership.
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The £40m price tag could be the big problem
Of course, signing Balogun would not be cheap. Reports suggest that a fee of around £40m could be needed to bring him to Elland Road.
That is a huge amount of money, especially with Leeds needing to manage their spending carefully under the new financial rules. The club would have to decide whether Balogun is worth such a major investment.
There would also be questions about whether his excellent form in France would transfer directly to the Premier League. That is always a risk.
But Balogun is still young and has plenty of room to improve.
He has already played at a high level, has international experience and has shown that he can score goals regularly.
For Leeds, this could be the type of signing that changes the direction of the team.
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A chance to find Leeds’ next great striker
Leeds have a proud history of top strikers. Players such as Mark Viduka and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink became major figures at Elland Road and gave supporters plenty of goals to celebrate.
The club has been searching for another striker who can reach that level for a long time.
Calvert-Lewin has now given Leeds hope that they may have found one. But adding Balogun could take things even further.
He may not play in the same style as Viduka, and comparisons with past legends should always be treated carefully. Still, his pace, movement and finishing could make him a very exciting player for Leeds.
The most important thing is that Leeds must continue to improve.
Staying in the Premier League once is one challenge. Becoming an established top-flight club is something completely different.
If the Whites believe Balogun can become a 20-goal Premier League striker, then spending big money on him could be worth the gamble.
Calvert-Lewin has already shown what a difference a confident striker can make. Now Leeds have the chance to give Farke another attacking weapon.
And if Balogun can bring his best form to England, the combination of the American forward and Calvert-Lewin could give Leeds one of their most exciting attacking partnerships in years.
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