During an interview with Football Insider, Darren Bent has urged Leeds United to sign Andy Delort. The former Aston Villa star believes that the Whites need more pace in their attack and that the Montpellier forward could be an excellent option.
“Pace is essential in today’s game, we know Patrick Bamford’s been brilliant so far but he’s got a bit of a lean spell as we thought he would do at some stage… You don’t have to play in front of teams, you can just chip it in behind so yeah, I’m all for that.”, approved Bent, when asked about Delort’s potential move to Elland Road.
Who Is Andy Delort?
Andy Delort is an experienced forward who has played for a host of clubs across France and even Wigan Athletic for a time. Currently plying his trade at Montpellier, the 29-year-old has been consistently finding the back of the net for the Ligue 1 outfit over the past few years.
This season, in particular, Delort has netted nine goals in just 19 league appearances along with six assists. He is well on course towards breaking his career record of 14 goals in a top-flight campaign – a feat he achieved back in 2018/19 campaign.
Delort’s record of 35 goals in just 87 competitive matches for Montpellier is reflective of his productivity in front of goal. His tally of 16 assists also does justice to his overall versatility in the final third as the striker is well capable of creating opportunities for his teammates with useful key passes in and around the penalty area.
Perhaps the most important element in the Algerian’s overall game, however, is his pace. The 29-year-old notably clocked an outrageous speed of 36.8km/h last season – making him faster than most other strikers not only in France but in Europe’s top five leagues. Such pace, therefore, makes him quite a scourge for the defenders on the counter.
Do Leeds United Require Delort’s Services?
Leeds United are in desperate need of a new striker this January. Their primary centre-forward Patrick Bamford has done well for the most part. But, as Darren Bent rightly pointed out, he is going through a rough patch, which was evident in his performance in the recent defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion this weekend.
Delort, in that regard, could be a potential solution to Bielsa’s offensive woes. The Algerian international has a lot of experience playing football, not only in France but also in England and Mexico. His pace, productivity and work ethic could make him an ideal asset in Marcelo Bielsa’s tactical setup at Elland Road during the second half of the campaign.
Unlike other targets, including Christian Kouame, Delort is unlikely to cost a fortune either as French football is currently experiencing a financial crisis thanks to the pandemic. Therefore, he is a viable target for the Whites as they look to add some quality into their ranks following a disastrous start to 2021.
