Confirmed: Kalmar striker Marcus Antonsson agrees to join Leeds United
Antonsson is set to join Leeds for a fee rising to almost £2million after completing a medical and finalising personal terms yesterday.
The 25-year-old – the leading scorer in Sweden’s top division this season – travelled to England over the weekend after the Whites struck a deal with Kalmar.
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Hide AdAntonsson, who previously worked with new United assistant Pep Clotet at Halmstads in 2011, caught the eye of English clubs with a tally of 10 goals in 12 games for Kalmar.
Aston Villa were also linked with him but an offer made by Leeds last week cleared the way for Antonsson to hold talks with United.
The forward is set to become Leeds’ first arrival of the close season and the first since the club named former Swansea City boss Garry Monk as head coach three weeks ago.
Antonsson has spent one-and-a-half seasons in Sweden’s Allsvenskan, averaging a goal from every two games for Kalmar.
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Hide AdHe is leaving his homeland on the back of his nomination as the Allsvenskan’s player of the month for May, an award earned by a flurry of seven goals in six games.
Leeds were held back in the Championship last season by a lack of potency up front, with Chris Wood finishing as the club’s top scorer with 13 goals and the only player to reach double figures.
Mirco Antenucci – a striker released by Leeds shortly after the end of the 2015-16 season – finished with nine goals to his name.
With Antonsson’s move all but complete, United remain in the hunt to sign Manchester United’s Ashley Fletcher, the 20-year-old forward who finished last season on loan at Barnsley.
Their interest in League Two player of the year Kemar Roofe, however, is on hold after Oxford United set £3m as their valuation for the striker.