Latest reports from Turkish Meda outlet, AjansBesiktas suggests that Leeds United could be interested in Besiktas winger Jeremain Lens. Earlier Sports Witness had reported that United’s scouts were present in attendance to watch Besiktas take on Norwegian outfit Sarpsborg in the Europa League.
Lens had a previous stint in England when he joined Sunderland in 2015. He joined the Turkish giants Besiktas on loan in the 2017-18 campaign, and it was this summer that he joined them permanently. Therefore it would be quite surprising if the right winger goes on to leave the club in January within almost six months of signing a permanent deal.
The winger has played for the Netherlands and is currently having a good season in Turkey. In 18 games in all competitions, Lens has contributed with five goals and six assists. Meanwhile, the Whites are doing quite well in the Championship so far and currently sit on the second spot on the table. Marcelo Bielsa had earlier played down (Leeds Live) the possibility of any new signings coming in the January window.
United currently have the likes of Jack Harrison and Pablo Hernandez for the right winger’s role, but someone like Lens can fit in anywhere in the attacking third. However, given that he is already 31, Bielsa might not be too eager on this move. The former Argentina manager is known to be more keen on working with young players and this season he has shown the same at Elland Road as well.
However, signing a right winger should be on the agenda of the club in the long run as Harrison is just on a season-long loan and by the time the next season ends, Hernandez would be 34. The Spaniard is still going strong and is one of the key members of the Whites’ squad, but it would be foolish to assume that he can carry on for long at the top level.
The Dutch international has tremendous pace to burn and has quick feet in tight spaces which makes it hard for defenders to counter him. He is also coming up with an end product regularly, and that is something which the wide man has improved upon from his initial playing days.
The winger has the experience of playing in elite European competitions like the Champions League and the Europa League, and he would definitely be someone who can make an instant impact if he goes on to join in January. The winger is currently showing good form and can give a significant boost in the club’s promotion pursuit.
However, we highly doubt that the player would be keen on a switch when he is playing European football at the moment and especially when he joined Besiktas permanently this summer only. So in our opinion, Bielsa probably does not want a 31-year-old coming in and even if he did, it seems highly unlikely Lens would want a move to Leeds United in January.
