Leeds United have agreed on a deal to sign a new midfielder, according to reports…
What’s the word?
The Sunday Mirror (16th January, page 73) claim the Yorkshiremen are on the verge of sealing the 20-year-old’s signature in a £6m move from Belgian outfit Standard Liege.
It’s thought that the highly-rated Belgian U21 international has been brought in to provide cover for the injured Kalvin Phillips, who isn’t expected to return to action until March at the very earliest.
Are you excited by the likely arrival of Nicolas Raskin at Leeds?
YES!
NO!
Bielsa will be buzzing
Well, it seems as if United have finally found that engine room enforcer they’ve been desperately looking for – and at just the right time.
Sunday’s game down at West Ham was another reminder of their mounting and persistent injury problems as Adam Forshaw – who has been playing in the Phillips role – went off during the first half with an injury.
It leaves Bielsa hugely light on options in the middle, so signing Raskin should leave him relieved, if not hugely excited about what lies ahead.
The young 5 foot 10 dynamo has excelled for Liege over the past 18 months. This season, he has provided two assists in 18 appearances from a deep-lying role, whilst also averaging a whopping 2.9 tackles per game.
That builds on last season’s performance, where the £4.5m-rated beast delivered three goals and five assists, and even featured in the Europa League, thus handing Bielsa some valuable experience that he perhaps lacks in his current squad.
“He is a box-to-box midfielder. He can play in every position in the middle of the park. He is technically gifted, but he is also a bit of a pitbull,” claimed Bob Faesen of Belgian newspaper Het Belang van Limburg to The Herald.
“He can run a lot, is powerful and has a good shot. He has been one of the big surprises in Belgium football this season and will be a key player for Liege who Rangers will need to be wary of.”
That sort of review will only make Bielsa even more buzzing to have landed him. Raskin certainly fits the atypical profile – hard-working, powerful and commanding at both ends of the pitch.
If reports are to be believed, then an announcement can’t be far away now. For £6m, it has to be considered an absolute bargain from Victor Orta and co.
AND in other news, Orta could sign his next Samu Saiz in Leeds swoop for “exciting” £10.8m-rated maestro…