Leeds United have been quite active in the market following their promotion to the Premier League. The Whites have shown remarkable ambition so far, notably retaining the services of star attackers like Helder Costa and Jack Harrison. However, they need further reinforcements if they are to make a mark in the English top-flight and one such player is Reiss Nelson.
The Arsenal attacker is rated as one of the best products to come out of the club’s youth academy in recent years and in this article, we will discuss why Leeds United must consider signing Reiss Nelson this summer.
Is Reiss Nelson A Realistic Target For Leeds United?
Reiss Nelson may have been overqualified for Leeds United last summer when the Whites were still in the Championship while the player himself was coming on the back of a thrilling loan spell at TSG Hoffenheim. However, a lot has changed since.
Nelson’s return to Emirates was not kind to him, with the winger struggling to compete with Nicolas Pepe for a place in the first-team. He made seven starts in the Premier League and missed a fair chunk of the campaign due to fitness issues.
While one might think that Nelson may not face the same challenges in the new season, the situation is quite the opposite.
The arrival of Willian has already added a lot of depth in Arsenal’s wide attacking areas. The Brazilian is tipped to become Arsenal’s primary alternative for Pepe and perhaps even a first-choice winger on the left flank. It is combined with Bukayo Saka being integrated into an attacking role while Gabriel Martinelli is expected to return to full fitness.
Leeds United, therefore, can offer Nelson some much-needed game-time, which is essential at this stage of his career. Thus, it is fair to assume that the Arsenal star is indeed a realistic option for the newly-promoted Premier League outfit.
Why Leeds United Must Sign Nelson
Leeds United attack improved a lot during the final phase of the 2019/20 campaign when players like Costa, Harrison and Pablo Hernandez started chipping in with goals. However, whether or not they can replicate their productivity in the Premier League remains doubtful. That is where the potential signing of Nelson could make sense.
The Arsenal youngster has already made quite a reputation with his ability to find the back of the net, notably scoring seven goals in 23 Bundesliga matches during the 2018/19 campaign.
Nelson is quite underrated when it comes to his attacking positioning. He knows how to make intelligent runs in behind the opposition defence and beat defenders with his sudden bursts of pace. His energy and tenacity could also tune in well with Marcelo Bielsa’s footballing ethos at Leeds United.
The 20-year-old can feature on both ends of the flank, thus giving the Argentine mastermind with additional tactical options at his disposal.
Unfortunately for the Whites, however, it is very unlikely that Arsenal would even want to loan Nelson this summer, let alone selling him permanently. He is someone who can potentially become the face of the club’s attack in the future, although failing to make a quick impact in the upcoming season might force Arteta to offload him in January.
