According to reports, Leeds could make a big-money move for Sevilla winger Lucas Ocampos in this upcoming summer transfer window.
What’s the story?
Football Insider claimed that Marcelo Bielsa’s side are keeping tabs on the Argentina international, with a number of Premier League clubs also said to be interested.
The report added that the Whites are assessing Ocampos’ situation at Sevilla, and is a player regarded as lighting up English football.
Another Raphinha
One of the standout signings of the last summer is Raphinha, who has enjoyed a superb debut campaign in the Premier League with Leeds.
The Brazilian has bagged six goals and provided a further five assists in the top flight alone, and has combined pace and trickery with an impressive work ethic – exactly the kind of description which fits Ocampos as well.
The Sevilla star has scored four goals and four assists in 24 La Liga games, while his attacking numbers are all fairly similar to Leeds’ wing wizard.
As per Whoscored, Ocampos averages slightly fewer shots per game than Raphinha at 1.9 per game compared to the latter’s 2.1, but actually manages more dribbles than the Leeds man with 2.2 to 1.8.
He also wins more tackles than Raphinha, averaging 1.3 per game in La Liga compared to the Brazilian’s one, and that desire to match his attacking instincts with hard work should go down a treat with Bielsa.
Dubbed as an “absolute ace“, journalist Mohammed Ali waxed lyrical about the £60m-rated winger to La Liga Lowdown, saying: “Lopetegui is giving him more of a free rein in a squad with a higher attacking IQ than Marseille, so now he’s strutting his stuff.”
If Victor Orta is looking to land a Raphinha-esque player in this summer transfer window for Leeds, then he should look no further than Ocampos.
Meanwhile, Leeds must surely regret selling this goal-scoring star…