When Garry Monk ventured into Elland Road after giving his consent to become the manager of Leeds United, the entire football fraternity knew that he was to set his foot into the baptism of fire. The West Yorkshire based outfit had finished 13th in the Championship table last season, didn’t have a noteworthy arsenal of highly performing assets and the pressure from chairman Massimo Cellino, who is renowned for sacking managers, to deliver was at its zenith.
Currently placed 5th in the league table and with a playoff spot, Monk has really performed miraculously to turn the tides in favour of his employers. However, Leeds United have been sporadic in patches and without any shadow of a doubt, the squad needs to be beefed up once the curtains of the summer transfer window get lifted. Irrespective of whether they get promoted or not, one of the players which the Championship side should aim to acquire is Bournemouth’s Max Gradel.
Gradel is someone who has slowly but surely climbed up the ladders right from Leicester City in League One to reach the top flight of English football. In between, he plied his trade with Leeds United and Saint-Etienne and frankly speaking, he is a commendable player to have in the squad. Under the tutelage of Eddie Howe, his growth has really stunted and as a matter of fact, he has had to content himself with merely 8 appearances in the Premier League so far this campaign, all of which have come from the bench.
Known for his pace and willingness to not leave any blade of grass unattended, Gradel is a complete package up front. The 29-year-old blasts forward and creates havoc in the opponents’ defence with his trickery and movement. He has an excellent eye for banging in goals, which has stagnated terribly ever since his move to the Vitality Stadium. Besides, he is a shrewdly creative player who finds precise passes as well as pockets of spaces for his teammates.
If a move to the Elland Road materialises for the Ivory Coast international, Leeds United would benefit the most, for he provides many sound attacking attributes. On the wings, Gradel thrives really well and that is where Monk (or any other manager for that matter) would like to manoeuvre him to derive the best out of him. He has played for the Peacocks before and thus, acclimatising himself with them would not be a massive task for him. It won’t be easy signing him though as Newcastle and Aston Villa have been linked with the attacker. Monk should target him as he still has a lot to offer.
Statistics Credits: WhoScored.
