5 things Leeds United should know about new striker target

According to source Turkish Football, and as carried by the Yorkshire Evening Post, Leeds United are said ready to place their faith in Senegalese striker Mbaye Diagne.

Goals were often laborious to come by last season for Leeds United. Kemar Roofe (11 goals) and Pierre-Michel Lasogga (10) never really stepping up to the 30-goal benchmark set by the consistent Kiwi Chris Wood throughout the 2016/17 Sky Bet Championship campaign.

Potential deals for named strikers in Abel Hernandez and Matej Vydra have fallen by the wayside, increasing wage demands being set as the blame for non-completion. Now Turkish Football say that Leeds United have joined in the hunt for Diagne and, indeed, “talks between Leeds United and the player’s representatives are already underway.”

With three years left on his contract, it is unlikely that the Senegalese striker will be allowed to leave current club Kasimpasa on a bargain deal. Leeds United will likely be forced to dig deep if they are to bring this one over the line.

Little is known about the Dakar-born 26-year-old, but here’s five things to help ‘rally Leeds United fans’ attention.

1. Loan deals are his bread-and-butter: after starting out at fourth-tier AC Bra, Diagne was snapped up by Juventus on August 30, 2013. A day later and he was out on his travels to French side AC Ajaccio. Then it was a series of three loans out to Lierse SK, Al-Shabab and KVC Westerlo. Those loans took him from August 2013 to June 2015 before Juventus sold him on to Hungarian side Újpest FC.

2. He scores goals: despite being shifted around so much by Juventus, Diagne does score goals. Across his 103 career games, the former Juventus prospect has scored 48 goals – these strikes coming at the rate of one per 164 minutes.

3. Only as good as recent form: if that old adage is true – then Leeds United might want to consider piggy-backing him to Elland Road. Since his free transfer from Chinese Super League side TJ Teda to Kasimpasa in mid-January this year, he made 17 appearances where he went on to score 12 goals and provide two assists. This return included a run of six goals in his last three games – including a hat-trick against Genclerbirligi.

4. Versatile up top: He can play in all three positions across the top of the 3-3-1-3 that Marcelo Bielsa prefers as his go-to set-up formation. Admittedly he is more effective as a centre-forward (38 goals) than as a left-wing (four goals) or a right-wing but that versatility will come in useful in the fluid system that Bielsa is wanting United to play.

5. He must have something: Juventus aren’t mugs when it comes to spotting talent. When they signed his up as a youngster there must’ve been something there – I mean he’s not an Edgar Çani. For that purpose only, you’d expect that sides will take a punt on him. Trouble is, it depends what fee it would take to test out that punt. With a limited budget, maybe Leeds United don’t want to take that chance.

Previous Article
, Could Leeds United be set to sign their new Chris Wood?

Could Leeds United be set to sign their new Chris Wood?

Next Article
, Nottingham Forest – RequestABet Specials

Nottingham Forest - RequestABet Specials

Related Posts