Dominic Calvert-Lewin is set to sign a new contract at Leeds, with the club moving quickly after Manchester United were exploring the market for another centre forward. Alan Smith has also backed the striker's quality, saying it “has never been in doubt”. Calvert-Lewin has already scored 20 goals in 49 appearances for Leeds since joining on a free transfer from Everton in the summer of 2025.
Smith's view on Calvert-Lewin
Smith's defence carries some weight because it matches what Leeds are seeing on the pitch. “I don’t think how good he is as a player was ever in question,” he told metro.co.uk. He also pointed to the long-running Manchester United links, saying: “I remember a couple of years ago, people were saying Man Utd were going to sign him. That sort of quality has never been in doubt.”
Calvert-Lewin's numbers this season support Leeds' decision to move early. He has 3 Premier League goals and 1 assist in 8 appearances, with 689 minutes already on the clock and a 6.9 average rating.
Why Leeds are moving quickly
The timing lines up with United's need up front. Benjamin Sesko was ruled out until January at the earliest because of a shin injury, and United are 16th in the Premier League with 7 points from 8 matches. Leeds, by contrast, are 7th with 11 points from 8 matches, so protecting a forward who is contributing regularly makes sense.
The only wrinkle is the appearance count attached to his Leeds spell. Some reporting puts that total at 49 appearances since his move from Everton, while the current Premier League tally sits at 8 matches this season. Leeds still look intent on tying him down, and the new deal reflects how quickly he has become part of their attack.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →
