Leeds are reportedly eyeing up a temporary move for Che Adams in January.
The Southampton striker has struggled for regular starts since the beginning of the season and has failed to score since making a £15m move from Birmingham last summer.
It is thought that Leeds prefer the 23-year-old over a possible move for the younger Rhian Brewster, another forward to have taken their fancy in recent weeks.
However, it could be a difficult deal to conclude with Nottingham Forest apparently in pole position to sign him next month.
Eddie Nketiah’s future in west Yorkshire remains unclear and it looks as though Leeds could have their replacement for the Arsenal man in mind, just in case he is recalled.
Adams is an eye-catching proposition after finding the back of the net 22 times for the Blues in 2018/19, so he could give the club a major boost as they step up their promotion credentials.
With that in mind, it would be an impressive signing on paper, but what do those at FFC towers reckon? Check out their thoughts below.
Viji Jeevathayalan:
“Leeds snapping up Che Adams in January could be a Marcelo Bielsa masterstroke. The Southampton striker has struggled to establish himself in the Premier League, and a move back down to his old stomping ground of the Championship could light a fire under him. Adams racked up 34 goals and provided 13 assists in English football’s second-flight, including 22 strikes last season whilst with Birmingham.
“Though Bielsa already has one loanee striker on his books, Adams’ previous experience of the Championship makes him a far better option than Nketiah. He already knows the grit and grind nature of the league, and how punishing both the schedule and opposition defences can be. Bringing him on loan to reinforce their attack ahead of their push towards promotion, could be the catalyst for success for Leeds.”
James Beavis: “Whether Che Adams would be a good signing for Leeds really does depend on how long it takes Marcelo Bielsa to restore his confidence, because it is at an all-time low right now.“Having cost £15m in the summer after scoring 22 goals in 46 Championship games for Birmingham last season, and having been selected in the starting XI by Ralph Hasenhuttl for the opening six Premier League matches this term, it seemed as though the 23-year-old was ready to make a big impact at Southampton.“However, it hasn’t quite worked out like that and having failed to find the net in those opening half-a-dozen fixtures – with a few near misses along the way including against Burnley and Sheffield United – he has barely featured since, playing just 41 minutes of top-flight football since September as per Transfermarkt.Can you get full marks on the Ultimate Leeds Quiz? Test your knowledge below…“It must be potentially soul-destroying for him to see the likes of Shane Long and Michael Obafemi start and come on before him given they also share his tally of zero goals in 2019/20.“The striker is clearly lacking confidence and may not start to get it back until he gets that goal. In that respect it would have to be seen as a risky move, but his record last season shows he has the ability to be prolific at this level.“Leeds don’t have a great deal of depth up top with Patrick Bamford and Eddie Nketiah in their ranks, and having that extra firepower from Adams could easily make the difference in the promotion race. Should he end up at Elland Road on loan, he can be the strong competition Bamford needs for his spot.”Lewis Blain:“Would Che Adams be a good signing for Leeds United? Absolutely. But is it going to happen? It’s hard to see it. There are a number of factors which make this deal seem rather unlikely.“CEO, Angus Kinnear, did claim that the club wouldn’t be spending in January while Phil Hay ruled them out of signing the £20m-rated Jarrod Bowen as they just cannot afford to make such moves, and although this is a potential loan switch, wages and fees are still going to be involved.“The 23-year-old’s record in the division speaks for itself with 22 goals and five assists in 46 appearances last season, but if he were to make a switch to Elland Road, he’d have to be patient as Marcelo Bielsa has wholly favoured Patrick Bamford. So much so that Arsenal loanee Eddie Nketiah has largely struggled for game time, and it’s this sort of stubbornness which should discourage Adams from taking such a move.“There’s no doubting that he’d be a fantastic addition for any second-tier side for the second half of the year, but there’s every chance he becomes another Bielsa outcast, which is absolutely not what he needs at this stage of his career. “Matt Dawson:“This could be the type of signing that bridges the gap between Leeds and West Brom at the top of the Championship table. Che Adams was in sensational form for Birmingham last term and that wasn’t necessarily with quality players surrounding him.“His form since arriving in the Premier League has been nothing short of shambolic, scoring just once, but he showed just how good he is at this level last term when he netted over 20 times. Just imagine what he could do with players like Mateusz Klich and Pablo Hernandez behind him. The pair have both played over two key passes per game. Whereas, only Jota managed that many under Garry Monk in 2018/19.“It may take him a few weeks to get up to speed but when you consider his goal record in the Championship, he’d be an astute acquisition. Victor Orta is definitely looking in the right direction.”Meanwhile, Leeds’ £7.2m-rated star has been given a lifeline by Marcelo Bielsa…
