In a recent interview with MOT Leeds News, former Premier League goalkeeper Paul Robinson revealed that he is impressed after Leeds United get linked with Juventus winger Douglas Costa, who is currently playing on loan at Bayern Munich. Robinson said,
“As soon as you hear his name… I mean what an incredible link.
“For Leeds, you think where they were last season in the Championship. Now, they’re mid-table in the Premier League and being linked to Douglas Costa.
“He’s a top-class European player and has been for a long time. He’s not that old either.
“He’s not played that much at Bayern Munich this season, whether Juve would let him out on loan or sell him permanently.
“It just shows how far Leeds have come that they’re being linked with players like this.
“It’s an incredible link but then you can link any players you want, if players don’t fit into the Bielsa system, regardless of the size of the name, they won’t be coming in.”
Costa’s Unimpressive Loan Spell In German Football This Season
Costa has endured an underwhelming loan spell at Munich after struggling to be productive for the Bavarian giants in the final third. The Brazilian wing wizard has failed to make himself a regular starter in Hans-Dieter Flick’s first-team and has only featured in 11 matches for Bayern this term in the Bundesliga, scoring just one goal and providing one assist in the process.
Due to the lack of game time, Costa has struggled to give a good account of himself as he is averaging 0.4 shots, 0.5 key passes and 0.8 dribbles per game in the German top tier. Still, the 30-year-old has been decent when distributing the ball in the attacking third based on his pass completion rate of 78.1% in league football (stats via whoscored).
What Does The Brazilian Wide Player Offer On The Field?
Costa is one of the quickest players in European football and can turn on the afterburners to get the better of his marker out on the wide areas. When he is playing with confidence, he can get to the by-line at will to cause all sorts of problems for the opposition defenders.
The Brazilian sensation is a decent crosser of the ball and can play a decisive pass in and around the opponent’s penalty box. However, frequent injuries have hampered his progress over the past 18 months, so there are some concerns over his long-term worth as he is entering the twilight years of his playing career.
Should The Whites Move In For Costa?
A player of Costa’s quality and experience would be a major coup for the West Yorkshire outfit if Marcelo Bielsa can devise a way to bring him to Elland Road. He will undeniably improve the overall quality of the Leeds United first-team and could help them challenge for European football in the coming seasons. Plus, the 31-time Brazil international is versatile enough to play anywhere across the frontline. All in all, the Whites should consider engineering a move to recruit Costa either on a loan deal or permanently at the end of this season.
