According to reports, Huddersfield Town are close to landing their second signing this summer in Ligue 1 striker Steven Mounie. The Benin international has had a decent debut season in France’s top-tier since coming from Ligue 2 last summer and has already started garnering attention from numerous clubs.
And while fans have been getting impatient while waiting for the official announcement, there have been rumours that the announcement has been held up due to the death of Montpellier president and the deal will be made public in the coming days.
La Paillade c’est une famille ??: Steve Mounié arrive à Mtp pr assister demain aux obsèques. Il repartira à Huddersfield, mercredi. #htfac pic.twitter.com/lAoSWOMaD7
— Mohamed TOUBACHE-TER (@MohamedTERParis) July 3, 2017
The Terriers are gearing up for their first season in the top-flight football after many decades and with David Wagner leading the side, the German boss wants an assuring front line that could create problems even for the strongest sides in the Premier League.
There is a surprisingly huge level gap in the playing intensity between Championship football and Premier League football, which has time and again frustrated highly-rated second-tier forwards. The forwards coming from League One and League Two sides, often find themselves bursting through the Championship challenge with considerable ease before reality hits hard at the top level.
Wagner is very wary of it and there is no way he would keep his trust only on the proven duo last season. In the likes of Elias Kachunga and Nahki Wells as their centre forwards, Wagner undeniably has two hardworking forwards but their inexperience at the top level could reduce them just another failed prospect next season.
Although Mounie hasn’t been a proven player yet, the 22-year-old has all the potential to become one. At 190cm, he is deadly from aerial attacks similar to their previous Ligue 1 winning star Olivier Giroud. The player knows to use his body brilliantly and excels in holding on to the ball for reinforcements to arrive and has shown some interesting link-up play with the late running midfielders.
He has scored 14 goals and three assists in 35 appearances for the side, and the coaches have enough reasons to believe he would only get better from now on. Wagner has wasted no time in roping him in after the deal with former Manchester City player Aaron Mooy was sealed.
Speaking to the media, he said, “I’m very happy that we have signed Aaron again… Everybody knows that we agreed on personal terms with Mounie and that we have agreed with Montpellier the terms as well. He’s having his medical and if everything goes right with that, he will be a Huddersfield player.”
Although the Terriers are taking long strides in beefing up the squad with the £100 million that they got as prize money for their promotion to the Premier League, Wagner would be worried about avoiding an immediate relegation next season that could leave them with big names and bigger wages that would be immensely difficult to fulfil.
