Leeds United now have one of the most respected coaches in world football looking over their squad in Marcelo Bielsa. The Argentine is sure to get the best out of each and every player at Elland Road, but he needs to make a few additions to his squad this summer if the Whites are to fight for promotion next season. This has seen them being linked with a number of exciting names but one player they continue to be linked with is Jerry Mbakogu.
Born and brought up in Nigeria, the 25-year old started his senior career with Padova, a third tier outfit in Italy, Mbakogu slowly started to impress in Serie C and was picked up by Carpi in 2014, joining the club in the second tier. He took his time to make an impact on the first team but in the last couple of seasons, he has shown great consistency time and again.
He scored six goals in 21 league starts and also got two goals in two Coppa Italia games and showed that he is ready for the next step. At just 25, he does have the potential to play for clubs in the top tiers in Europe and a move to Leeds would be a step in the right direction.
A natural finisher, who loves to play on the shoulders of the final defender, Mbakogu is a versatile attacker, who can play equally well on either wing. However, he is at his best while operating as a target man, constantly testing the backline and the keeper with every opportunity he gets.
He is not too creative in terms of his passing, but Mbakogu is always aware of what is going on around him and is adept at setting up goals when there is space in the final third. With the ball at his feet, he is a hard man to mark, as making space and taking a shot is all that he can think off.
He has 39 goals and 26 assists in 142 Serie B appearances and has enough experience to walk into the first team at Elland Road. He has been a transfer target for Leeds for over a month now and reports claim that Leeds have retained an interest in the player, even after it was suggested that the deal was dead earlier this month.
Read More: Leeds United Forward Draws Interest From La Liga Outfit: Will Bielsa Be Able To Hold On To His Man?
Bielsa has failed to land any of his top transfer targets including Matej Vydra, Abel Hernandez and Florian Jozefzoon so it does not come as a surprise that Mbakogu is also on the list. But do you think Leeds can land the Carpi star this summer?
