Leeds United are in the market for a winger this summer and Marseille’s Jonathan Rowe was a previous target for the club, who could now be available as a much more attainable target.
Time is ticking for the 49ers and Leeds’ recruitment team to find the ideal solutions in the attacker transfer market, and that includes landing a winger.
After the focus on physicality in central areas, Leeds need that bright spark in out wide to add goals and creativity to their side.
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Where do Leeds United go after Igor Paixao blow?
Igor Paixao was the winger Leeds had set their sights on to bolster the left wing last month, lodging a £28million bid to prise him out of Feyenoord.
(REUTERS/Stephane Mahe)
The issue Leeds faced was that Marseille matched Leeds in their offer and the player ended up choosing the Ligue 1 club over Elland Road, unsurprisingly, with Champions League football on offer under Roberto De Zerbi.
Attention now shifts to alternatives after Leeds’ dream target went elsewhere, and his profile is one that the club could certainly do with: a rapid, direct winger that shoots on sight and boasts an incredibly strong output in the final third.
Finding the same quality as Paixao appears incredibly difficult for Leeds, but finding a similar profile to the Brazilian should be the priority.
Could Jonathan Rowe be a sensible, cost-effective alternative for Leeds United?
A big dilemma the 49ers’ recruitment structure face now is that any feasible option is going to look worse than Leeds signing Paixao, so whoever they eventually sign is going to come under immediate scrutiny.
Paying up £28million for a new target might be the expectation for the fanbase, but beyond that, a lesser profile opportunity could be opening up thanks to Paixao himself.
According to Fabrice Hawkins, Marseille are now looking to sell winger Jonathan Rowe as a result of Paixao’s arrival and their chase of Lille’s Edon Zhegrova, and the former Norwich City man was notably a target last summer for United.
(REUTERS/Manon Cruz)
Last summer, Leeds tried their luck for the winger while he was at Norwich City, only for him to opt for Marseille in a loan deal that has been converted to a £17million permanent deal.
His time in France hasn’t been totally successful, scoring three and assisting three in Ligue 1, but at just 22, he undoubtedly has a high ceiling and proved during his time in the Championship that he is capable of the step up to Premier League football.
Scorer of two goals (plus one assist) in the U21 European Championships, Rowe’s glancing header won the tournament for England earlier this summer.
Of course, as much as Rowe would be a viable signing for any newly-promoted side, there is the caveat of expectation at Elland Road: going from Paixao himself, to the man that Paixao is replacing would be a noticeable step down.
Having said that, Rowe would likely be an solid addition to the current pool of wingers Farke has at his disposal, while the money saved would allow Leeds to reinvest into a lucrative number 10 and striker signing.
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!