According to La Lazio Siamo Noi, Leeds United are interested in the services of Luiz Felipe. The Whites have even tabled a €30 million offer for the Lazio centre-back this summer, although the Serie A outfit have opted to reject it. They are, in fact, holding out for a fee of €40 million, although it is negotiable up to €38 million. It now remains to be seen whether or not the Whites come back with a better offer.
Who is Luiz Felipe?
Felipe has been a part of the Lazio side since 2016 when he joined the club from Ituano. He was immediately loaned out to Salernitana and became a key first-team component when he came back in 2017.
At the moment, the Brazilian has emerged as an ever-present figure in the Lazio backline, having made 86 appearances for the club in all competitions. His performances this past season, in particular, were critical in helping Le Aquile secure Champions League football.
Felipe is yet to receive a call-up to the Brazilian national team. But, at the age of 23, he has already earned quite a reputation in Italy and is destined to increase his popularity within the coming years.
What Can He Bring To The Table?
Luiz Felipe is a fierce defender, who is known for his tenacity and willingness to win back possession for his side. He is not afraid to commit himself into challenges and had notably secured a tackle success rate of 76% this past season. The 23-year-old is also quite good when it comes to reading the game, averaging 1.6 interceptions per match.
His game is not only restricted to the defensive side of things, however, as Felipe is also a reliable passer of the ball. The centre-back had attained an excellent pass completion of 88% last season, which is quite impressive for any Lazio player.
The Brazilian’s commitment and technical prowess are complemented by an imposing 1.87m figure that gives him a considerable advantage in physical and aerial battles, making him a well-rounded defender.
Should Leeds United Make An Improved Offer?
Luiz Felipe, no doubt, has the quality to thrive at Elland Road given his all-round gameplay and a fierce nature that tunes in well with Marcelo Bielsa’s footballing philosophy. In fact, the 23-year-old bears a resemblance to Ben White when it comes to his tackling and passing.
Having said that, Lazio’s rather expensive €38 million valuation could become problematic for Leeds United for multiple reasons. For one, they have already bagged the services of Robin Koch of SC Freiburg, who is believed to be an ideal successor of White.
The addition of the German international also means that Leeds are now likely to settle for a relatively cheaper option rather than finding an upgrade over Liam Cooper.
Besides, Bielsa, as a coach, is not a fan of too much rotation, meaning he won’t be looking for too many options in any position. It should, therefore, effectively end their pursuit of Felipe, even though the Brazilian could have proved to be an asset at Elland Road.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
