It was reported in the transfer news a few days ago, and written about here on The72, that Leeds United were seen as interested in Chievo’s Ghanaian striker Caleb Ekuban. Now it appears that the Whites have competition.
According to Italian publication Calcionews24, Leeds face competition from Cypriot side Apoel Nicosia who will feature in the Champions League this season. The Italian media site say that, after a 17-goal season loaned out to Albanian side Partizan Tiranam, Ekuban will return to Chievo but “only in passing” with “several clubs” said to be chasing him.
Ghanaian site GHANAsoccernet reported that Leeds United were in pole position to bring the 23-year-old to Elland Road and English football saying that the West Yorkshire side had “slapped in a request for the services of the striker.”
However, like Calcionews24 have reaffirmed today, GHANAsoccernet said that APOEL Nicosia have tabled “a reported $500,000 [bid] for his signature.” The Italian site state that, due to this bid, that “Nicosia is in pole [to capture Ekuban].”
The Ghanaian’s current side are Chievo Verona, who play in the top flight in Italy, but he has struggled to make an impression at the side who finished 14th in Serie A this season. However, after making it through Chievo’s youth set-up, Ekuban has found opportunities limited and his development has come about through a series of loan deals to other clubs.
His strike ratio isn’t anything to light up the skies with fireworks, scoring just 29 times in his 103 games, but with youth on his side and the right coaching those goals could be encouraged out of him.
Leeds fans are almost united in their opinion that a new striker is needed to avoid the team’s reliance solely on the goals of main striker Chris Wood. Swede Marcus Antonsson hasn’t yet made his mark on the side and, despite showing flair and growing consistency, Kemar Roofe has yet to strap on his League Two scoring boots for the Whites.
