Leeds should step up efforts for £25m ‘Ronaldo-type’ forward after his club signs potential replacement – TBR View

Add as preferred source on Google

Leeds United were linked with Ollie Watkins earlier this month and his club may have just signed his replacement.

The Daily Mail reported that the Brentford striker has been spoken of as a potential recruit this summer as the Whites look to bring in a striker to support Patrick Bamford.

Though Rodrigo Moreno has since arrived at Elland Road, that’s not to say Leeds are necessarily done in bolstering their attacking ranks ahead of their Premier League return.

On Monday, Brentford announced the imminent signing of Ivan Toney from Peterborough, the 24-year-old set to officially become a Bees player on Tuesday.

With Toney arriving at Brentford, this could well provide more leeway when it comes to the Bees cashing in on Watkins, who certainly looks destined for a Premier League move.

Last summer, Thomas Frank moved Watkins from out wide to up front in wake of Neal Maupay’s move to Brighton.

This proved a masterstroke as the reported £25million-valued ace netted 26 league goals from 49 games – all of the Championship regular-season games plus playoffs.

“He’s like a Ronaldo-type, that he can play as a nine or he can play to the side, or he can play as a 10, but because he’s so versatile he has abilities you can benefit off in all positions,” Frank told the Wandsworth Times last August.

With Frank’s side falling at the last hurdle as Fulham triumphed in the Championship playoff final, Watkins should look beyond another season in the second-tier, and with his versatility and talent,  would surely be a good fit for Bielsa’s Leeds.