Latest reports claim that Leeds United are eyeing up a move for Liverpool youngster, Pedro Chirivella with a number of other Championship outfits also looking on. The 21-year-old is coming off a loan spell with Dutch outfit, Willem II and was once wanted by the reigning European champions, Real Madrid themselves.
At this point, Chirivella is nothing but an additional head who is simply not good enough to feature in Jurgen Klopp’s first team. The defensive midfielder’s appearances in a Liverpool jersey hardly have any Premier League football in it other than the one appearance he made under Klopp on 1st May 2016 against Swansea City.
Chirivella did manage to carve a starting role last season for Willem II and racked up 35 appearances, delivering 4 assists but no goals. He solidified their midfield from the anchor position but also surged ahead to help out on the offensive end from time to time.
Carlo Ancelotti had once earmarked the Spaniard during his time as Real Madrid boss and was even ready to battle Liverpool for his signature. The Reds ended up getting him from Valencia for little over £2m in the summer of 2013.
At 17, Chirivella was mostly viewed as a highly rated prospect after watching him in action previously for the Spanish U17 side. He made 15 total appearances for the team and scored on two occasions to impress plenty of European outfits.
Somehow things did not pan out for the Spaniard as was predicted earlier but do not let that sway you. Chirivella is well qualified for a place in a top-flight side but just needs that one chance to prove his worth.
Standing at 5 feet 10 inches tall, the 21-year-old can perform as the much needed central option to build a team around. Chirivella has athletic prowess to be impactful on the defensive end and the technical ability to formulate his team’s offence.
He was trained in the esteemed youth academy of Valencia and was one of the seven players in his batch at Anfield to be offered a professional contract. He might be surplus to Klopp’s requirements at the moment but Leeds could certainly use him for the upcoming season.
An additional head in the midfield who will add a bit of creativity to the side is exactly what the Peacocks need to place an improved challenge for promotion next term.
With players like Pablo Hernandez, Ezgjan Alioski, Kemar Roofe and Stuart Dallas stretching the floor from the wide areas, Chirivella can team up with Ronald Viera or Adam Forshaw to turn Leeds into a domineering attacking force.
The question lies in whether Andrea Radrizzani or the new manager is ready to take a gamble on a midfielder who is unproven in the English game.
