As football in England nears its return, Leeds United will surely be delighted as they look to secure their much-awaited promotion to the Premier League next term. The Whites are leading the Championship table, albeit by just one point.
However, Marcelo Bielsa’s side is tipped to undergo a busy transfer window this summer with the club lacking depth on multiple areas of the pitch. One such player Leeds could pursue is Rouwen Hennings of Fortuna Dusseldorf – a player who can be an answer to the club’s problems in the offensive unit.
Who is Rouwen Hennings?
A product of the Hamburg youth academy, Hennings is currently one of the most experienced strikers in the Bundesliga. Although he has spent most of his time playing in lower leagues, the 32-year-old has found immense success in the German top-flight this campaign.
In fact, only Jadon Sancho, Timo Werner and Robert Lewandowski have scored more goals than Hennings in the Bundesliga so far. His tally of 14 goals is close to 50% of the 33 goals Fortuna have scored as an entire unit this campaign, thus helping his side fight relegation.
Meanwhile, Hennings had also played in England back in 2015, when he joined Burnley in a €2.5 million move from Karlsruher SC. He eventually left the club in the following year, joining Fortuna on loan, before it was made permanent in 2017.
What can he offer to the table?
As his scoring statistics would suggest, Hennings is a goal-poacher, who likes to operate around the shoulders of the last defender. He can hover around the dangerous areas of the pitch, looking to get in between the lines and position himself at the right place at the right time.
Aside from his positioning, Hennings is also capable of holding his own in a physical or even an aerial one-on-one duel. Also, the 32-year-old is a disciplined forward, who isn’t afraid to close down the opposing defenders and operate in a systemic fashion, in the first line of press.
Why Leeds United must sign Rouwen Hennings
There are many aspects of Hennings’ game that make the Fortuna forward an ideal target for Leeds United. First and foremost, he is an experienced striker, having played in over 200 matches in 2.Bundesliga. His past exposure in the Championship is also a bonus as it could help him integrate quickly to the rigours of Premier League football.
While Hennings is definitely not a reliable first-choice striker in the English top-flight, his ability to find the back of the net, combined with his competitive nature would make him an ideal alternative to the likes of Jean-Kevin Augustin and Patrick Bamford. Therefore, it might not be a bad idea for Leeds United to make a move for Hennings this summer as they look to resolve their issues in the goalscoring department.
