According to the latest reports from Algerian media outlet Competiton, Leeds United are once again being linked with a move for Baghdad Bounedjah. The striker currently plies his trade in the Qatar League for Al Sadd SC and has been in tremendous goalscoring form for a year now. The striker has scored more goals than Lionel Messi in 2018, and this season the 27-year-old has so far managed 26 goals in 13 games. Along with the Whites, clubs like Lille, Marseille and Leicester City are also said to be interested.
This is not the first time that Bielsa’s side have been linked with a move for this Algerian international as reports in the summer from L’expression came out that the Qatari side were demanding £13.25m for their Algerian striker. It was believed that such an exorbitant price put United off.
Al Sadd’s president Abdelaziz Ben Hamad once again indicated that he wouldn’t let his prized asset go for cheap. He was quoted as saying, ”On a personal level, I’d refuse that Bounedjah leaves. I hope with all my heart that he will continue the adventure in Al Saad. He is an important player for us.
“I also know that in this time of professionalism, when a player finds a big club according to him, he would like to leave. This is the ambition of every player. However, he must certainly know that Al Saad is a very big club. If Bounedjah finds a big club that wants to recruit him and our team comes out the winner of this transfer, he will be able to leave and on our side, we can replace him with another great striker.”
Given United’s run in the Championship, they don’t need a striker at the moment and certainly not in upwards of £10m. Kemar Roofe has been in tremendous form so far and Bielsa also has Patrick Bamford who he signed in the summer only. Apart from them, the manager can also call upon the services of Tyler Roberts who showed promising signs in the period when Roofe and Bamford were out with injury. Therefore we don’t see the club going for a striker next month.
Bounedjah’s goal-scoring exploits might be eye-catching as he currently averages two goals a game this season but we aren’t too sure about the quality of the Qatari league. The fact that some top flight clubs are interested in him shows that he has enough potential.
However, the Whites cannot afford to make a signing of a £10m player without him being even tested anywhere across Europe. Bielsa should probably look to add a goalkeeper and an attacking midfielder to the squad instead of spending huge amounts on a striker.
