During an interview with Football Insider, Alex Bruce has urged Leeds United to sign Che Adams. The former Hull City defender believes that the Southampton striker has the quality to thrive at Elland Road. Bruce told Football Insider, “He’s got really good attributes, and he’s a handful. For Leeds, he might be worth a punt.”
Che Adams’ struggles at Southampton
Adams joined Southampton last summer, in a €16.7 million move from Birmingham City. He was then considered as one of the biggest assets in English football, having scored 22 goals in the Championship during the 2018/19 campaign. However, his time at St. Mary’s stadium hasn’t panned out the way he would have expected.
In fact, the striker is yet to score a single Premier League goal in his 22 appearances for the club, even though he has actually made only eight starts. The youngster’s failures to find the back of the net have seen Southampton appear overly reliant on the services of Danny Ings, who has netted 15 goals this term.
At the same time, Che’s valuation is also set to take a massive hit, following a disastrous debut campaign in the Premier League. His current contract at Southampton expires in 2024. But, the striker might be on his way out of St. Mary’s long before that.
What can he bring to the table?
Perhaps the main reason behind Adams’ struggles at Southampton is his style of play that hasn’t exactly suited well under Ralph Hasenhuttl’s tactical setup. Unlike a traditional number nine, the 23-year-old is known for his pace, acceleration and technical prowess that allows him to not only score goals but also create chances in the final third.
Indeed, the Southampton striker is a modern forward, who can link-up with teammates and open up opportunities. It makes him quite similar to Leeds United’s very own Patrick Bamford. And that begs the question – is Adams really a viable target for the Whites?
Alex Bruce has urged Leeds United to sign Che Adams – A wise option for Marcelo Bielsa?
As pointed out earlier, Adams’ style of play is very similar to Bamford, meaning they are equipped with a specific trait of characteristics that could make them excellent team players. But, neither of these two forwards can guarantee goals, and it has been evident this season.
This lack of conversion rate could haunt Leeds United in the Premier League, where they will not be able to dominate games and create chances.
With that in mind, it might not be a prudent option for Marcelo Bielsa to invest in someone unlikely to provide any real tactical dimension to his side. He should, therefore, set his sights on other alternatives as Leeds look to strengthen their offensive unit prior to a potential promotion back to the Premier League next season.
