One topic of conversation that has been buzzing around Leeds United’s fans on social media has been about the ‘wide’ positions and whether Leeds are equipped in that area considering that they will be turning out Rösler’s ‘heavy metal’ football thanks to the new 4-3-3 system being utilised next season.
Midfield is pretty much set: Cook, Mowatt alongside Murphy or Bianchi. It’s really the front three that has Leeds United fans a-fretting; Mirco Antenucci likely to be the starting forward but the wider areas are a concern for Leeds fans what with Nicky Ajose the only out-and-out winger on the first team books. Even that is clouded by the fact that Ajose spent most of last season on loan at Crewe where he had a decent season scoring eight goals and providing five assists. Something needs to be done if Leeds are to address this weakness in their set-up.
Tuttavia, niente paura* as help could be at hand and the solution just around l’angolo…so to speak. Sport Witness via on original report on the website calciomercato.com, have reported that Juventus winger Simone Pepe, reputed to be a target for Leeds United, has said his farewells to his Vecchia Signora teammates ahead of him becoming a free agent. Here are some of Pepe’s parting words,
“Alla Juventus ho trascorso anni cinque fantastici in Una Società incredibile. Ho date il cuore, l’anima…una Il popolo. Bianconero l’ha capito e infatti mi ha sempre osannato e riempito d’affetto Con i tifosi manterrò sensazione un incredibile per sempre ” – calciomercato.com
“At Juventus I spent five fantastic years in amazing company. I have given my heart and soul…for the people. Juventus has understood [me] and in fact I have always praised and filled with affection the fans [and] will keep an incredible feeling forever.” – Google Translate
With such words as these, it is obvious that Simone Pepe is resigned to leaving Juve and, on a free transfer, he will be an attractive proposition for some Serie A teams, what with his already proven pedigree. In April, another Italian website in tuttomercatoweb claimed that Leeds were interested in signing the highly-thought of Italian and that Leeds’ owner, Massimo Cellino, was interested in bringing a series of Italian-based players to Elland Road, with Simone Pepe being one of the more ambitious projects.
What will no doubt whet the lips of Leeds fans is that we are still supposedly awaiting three more transfers with one of them promised to be ‘amazing’. Could this be that one?
*However, never fear
Featured image credit: Gigidelneri (Wikimedia Commons)