According to local Sampdoria news outlet, Clubdoria46, Leeds United are among clubs interested in Omar Colley. The Sampdoria centre-back is facing an uncertain future at the club and is poised for a potential move away from Italy in the summer. The Italian outfit might be looking for a fee somewhere around €10 million – €15 million for the services of Colley, who is also a target for fellow Premier League clubs in Fulham and West Ham.
Omar Colley: A Defensive Gem For Sampdoria
Omar Colley has been a success story at Sampdoria ever since he joined the club in 2018 for a fee of just €8 million. The centre-back has settled in nicely in Italian football, even becoming the defensive lynchpin for Sampdoria over the past few years.
In fact, the 28-year-old has already notched up 78 competitive appearances for the Blucerchiati, helping them hover around the mid-table area for the last three seasons.
A native of The Gambia, Colley is best known for his ability to read the game. While he initially operates behind the attacker, he can quickly make up ground to move ahead and intercept passes.
However, what makes him a particularly sought-after defender in Italian football, is that the Gambian doesn’t tend to struggle under pressure. Even after intercepting a pass, he has the awareness as well as the composure to distribute and even offer a progressive forward pass – making him quite an appealing option for any club.
Should Leeds United Invest In Colley?
Leeds United’s pursuit of a new centre-back is likely to intensify this summer following the departure of Gaetano Berardi. It could force Marcelo Bielsa to find a cost-effective option, who can not only replace the ageing centre-back but also offer competition for the likes of Robin Koch, Diego Llorente and Liam Cooper, all of whom have struggled with injuries this season.
Colley could be an ideal option given his aggressive style of play and defensive positioning that could come in handy in Bielsa’s attacking philosophy. The 28-year-old offers a lot of experience at the highest level of football, having played in Italy for almost three years while also winning 25 caps for The Gambia side.
Colley’s presence in the side can add more depth in the defensive unit, but it will also allow Bielsa to have someone like Koch or Llorente as an option in defensive midfield, ideally as a back-up for Kalvin Phillips.
Most importantly, however, it is Sampdoria’s meagre price-tag of €10 million – €15 million that could potentially make Colley a real bargain for Leeds United in the upcoming summer transfer window.
