Three hat-tricks in his first half-season, 57 minutes this one: Leeds and Bournemouth eye Monaco’s Denmark striker

Mika Biereth has gone from Monaco’s most dangerous finisher to a spare part in less than two years, and Leeds United and Bournemouth are both weighing up a January move to bring the Denmark international back to England.

According to Foot en France, a winter exit for the 23-year-old striker is gaining traction, with the two Premier League clubs among the options alongside several Bundesliga sides. Nothing is concrete yet. For now it is an early look at what terms a deal might need, rather than a firm offer.

The interest makes sense on paper. Biereth was born in England, started out in Fulham’s academy and knows the country well, and Filipe Luís has made it clear he is not part of his plans at the Stade Louis II.

Why are Monaco ready to let him go?

It was all so different not long ago. Monaco paid Sturm Graz around €13m before add-ons in January 2025, and Biereth repaid them almost immediately with 13 goals in 16 Ligue 1 games, including three hat-tricks. The club were so convinced they had found a striker to build around that they extended his contract until June 2030 that summer.

The follow-up season was a different story. He finished 2025-26 with just two league goals, and since Filipe Luís arrived in July his Ligue 1 action has shrunk to 57 minutes across three appearances. He has been left out for the last two matches altogether.

A move would give him the one thing he has lost in the principality: a chance to be seen.

Mika Biereth stats: from three hat-tricks to 57 minutes

The road to Monaco was a winding one. Biereth left Fulham for Arsenal in 2021 and made it into the Gunners’ first-team picture a year later without ever playing a senior game for them. Loan spells followed before he joined Sturm Graz permanently in 2024.

He has never pretended the Arsenal chapter didn’t sting. Speaking in September 2025, he said: “I didn’t follow it that much, but I know that Kai Havertz was injured, and if I had still been there, I could have played for Arsenal.”

Why would Leeds want another striker?

Because goals have dried up. Leeds United go into Saturday’s visit of Tottenham 12th on 11 points, without a league win in five games and with only two goals scored in that run.

Daniel Farke is also short on bodies. Noah Okafor and Anton Stach are major doubts, and even Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been nursing a sore foot this week, as we covered in our Leeds predicted lineup vs Tottenham. Calvert-Lewin is reportedly set to commit to a new Leeds contract, but there is very little behind him if he gets hurt.

A striker who knows how to finish and has a point to prove ticks a lot of boxes for a club in that position, and with Monaco ready to move him on, we would not expect the price to be anywhere near the €13m they paid.

Where do Bournemouth fit in?

The Cherries are in a stronger place, having beaten Leeds 2-0 last weekend, and Marco Rose already has Evanilson leading the line. Their interest looks more like long-term planning, especially with clubs like Juventus now circling Eli Junior Kroupi, even if Bournemouth have no plans to sell him in January.

Biereth, still only 23 and tied to Monaco until 2030, would be a low-risk option for a club planning ahead rather than one in need of a quick fix.

Verdict: Leeds need Mika Biereth more

For Bournemouth he would be a smart bit of business. For Leeds he could be the difference between a nervy winter and a comfortable one.

The question is whether the striker of early 2025 is still in there. Thirteen goals in 16 games doesn’t happen by accident, but two league goals in the season that followed is a long time to go cold. If Monaco will accept a loan with an option, or a fee that reflects 57 minutes of football, it is a gamble Farke should be keen to take. The next few weeks should tell us which of the two clubs is serious.