According to Sheffield Star, Leeds United are among clubs interested in Osaze Urhoghide. The Sheffield Wednesday centre-back has attracted the attention of a host of other English clubs, with Watford and Crystal Palace also in the running. A move to the Premier League, therefore, could be on the horizon for the youngster, especially with Wednesday struggling financially at the moment.
Who Is Osaze Urhoghide?
A product of the Wimbledon youth academy, Urhoghide has been a part of the Sheffield Wednesday setup since 2019. He was promoted to the senior side at the start of last year, before eventually making his Championship breakthrough during the second half of the ongoing campaign.
Indeed, Urhoghide has become a first-team regular at the heart of Wednesday’s backline, having already notched up 11 appearances in the league so far. Although the club has struggled in regards to their performances, the young defender has emerged as one of the rare bright spots.
A centre-back by trade, Urhoghide has impressed the onlookers with his imposing presence at the back. Standing at 1.88m, the Englishman is extremely effective in the air, having won almost four aerial duels per game on average this season.
The 20-year-old has a no-nonsense defensive attitude as well, as the defender has averaged 3.5 clearances with almost three tackles per game. His tally of 1.8 interceptions, meanwhile, is indicative of his ability to read the game – making Urhoghide quite a well-rounded central defender.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
The Case For Urhoghide At Leeds United
Urhoghide is undoubtedly a talented centre-back, who has time on his side and has the potential to become an asset in the Premier League. His strength in physical and aerial duels coupled with his footballing brain is an ideal combination and it could particularly become useful at Leeds United.
The Whites play with a lot of dynamism in their game, often leaving the defence quite vulnerable. In addition, the club has struggled with the injury-related absences of Diego Llorente, Robin Koch and Gaetano Berardi, who is likely to leave Elland Road in the summer. It paves the way for Urhoghide to join the Leeds camp this summer.
The 20-year-old could be an ideal alternative for the likes of Llorente, Koch and Liam Cooper while his versatility could be helpful should Marcelo Bielsa chose to utilise him as a wide defensive player. The Argentine’s tactical philosophy is likely to improve Urhoghide’s other qualities as well, including composure and work-ethic – making him an ideal long-term investment for the club.
