Speaking of New Zealand, the nation isn’t widely recognised for generating outputs to serve the game of football. However, a certain New Zealander has been grabbing the headlines with his spectacular outings week in and week out in the Sky Bet Championship. Chris Wood has become a household name after his exploits for Leeds United.
The Kiwi has been in scintillating form this season and has been getting a lot of limelight. With 14 goals and an assist alongside creating 23 chances this campaign already, Wood has steered Leeds United to the vicinity of the summit of Championship’s chart and has been one of the best players ever since Garry Monk took over the charge at the Elland Road. He is a proven goal-scoring machine and no wonder why he is rated so highly in the football fraternity.
With exception quality comes limelight from the media and from limelight come the big sides with money to spend. The 25-year-old’s growth as a complete footballer up front has cultivated a lot of interest, especially from the Premier League clubs. Monk, however, has been smart enough to fend the interests from top tier clubs (most notably, West Ham United) by slapping a hefty price tag of £15million for their leading goal getter. Now, the question is, should the Hammers get their target by paying such a considerable amount of cash?
Arguably, yes. The Auckland born striker has been absolutely scintillating for his current west Yorkshire based club, but the story doesn’t end here. He has climbed to this stature after considerable toils at various clubs like West Bromwich Albion, Leicester City, Bristol City, Ipswich Town et al.
He excelled in the youth and reserves team of the Baggies before getting the calls into recognition, thus implying that what he has achieved hasn’t been built overnight. Moreover, his loan spells have always been fruitful and he has put his high calibre on the tray on each of the sides he has plied his trade in.
Wood is an out-and-out striker who is sharp, mobile, alert and cunning inside and at the vicinity of the box. He never shies away from aiming at the goal, has an eye for finding the right teammate with his passes and has a decent pace as well. Although physically, he isn’t as strong as the textbook manual of Premier League asks for, he has the attributes of a clinical striker.
Forking out £15 million would be a safe bet from West Ham United, considering that the London-based outfit have struggled to sign a striker who can consistently give them goals in double digits every season.
Statistics Credits: Squawka.
