Leeds United might have succumbed in the business end of the 2015-16 season of Sky Bet Championship owing to their self-constructed woes which cost them a playoff spot, but one of the players to have fallen under intense speculation is Chris Wood. The Kiwi international banged as many as 27 goals and pencilled 4 assists in 44 outings in the English second division and no wonder why his stocks have risen tremendously.
The Whites might actually be tempted to sell Wood in the summer transfer window for a hefty transfer fee but if Wood departs from Elland Road, there would be a creation of a huge void in their attacking setup. From what transpired last season, it hasn’t been hard to deduce that the 25-year-old hitman had been the one who almost singlehandedly discharged the goal scoring needs of the club and a shrewd replacement would be needed by the Peacocks if his exit eventually materialises.
In a circumstance like this, it is important that the West Yorkshire based club start to look for the potential replacements which they could lure under their ranks to continue their development and one of the players they could possibly target is Everton’s striker Oumar Niasse. Niasse was shipped out on loan from the Goodison Park to Hull City for the second half of the Premier League campaign last season. He cultivated a decent season for himself, scoring 4 goals and registering 1 assist in 17 games in the top flight and has shown that he does have the calibre to lead the attacking arsenal of a decent side, although he might not be deemed as good enough for a big club like the Toffees.
The 27-year-old is physically quite strong, is quick and has the knack to take on the defenders. He is dangerous inside the box, is clinical and is versatile enough to ply his trade on the flanks as well, which make him a complete package. Besides, he shoots fiercely from the distance, is venomous with his positional awareness and covers acres of ground with his relentless toil and perseverance to make something happen for his employers time and again.
Leeds United are looking to add fresh faces to their squad to inject some positive mentality and someone who is handsomely experienced like Niasse certainly fits the bill. Although he has weaknesses like lack of concentration and precision in his passes, he could brush himself up by accumulating much-needed game time under his belt on a regular basis which could enable him in redeeming his calibre completely.
Statistics Credits: WhoScored
