Leeds could sign Marcelo Bielsa’s perfect player in Sevilla winger Lucas Ocampos.
Reports in recent days have suggested that Marcelo Bielsa’s side are very much interested in bringing the Argentina international to the Premier League this summer, and when you look at his style of play, it’s very much a perfect match with the Whites boss.
As La Liga Lowdown’s Sevilla correspondent Gregor Chappelle reveals, the £70k-a-week earning Ocampos’ quality at both ends of the pitch have been very impressive.
He said: “I was surprised by how good he’s been, turning into one of the most important players in the team. He obviously enjoys playing in Lopetegui’s system and he takes a lot of confidence from being the main man.
“But Ocampos also works really hard defensively. He’ll drop back to cut out quick balls out wide, while the full-back on his side will press the opposition to try and force an error. He’s got a great engine on him as well as physicality and strength, so he provides good defensive cover and gives as good as he gets in 50/50 challenges.”
It’s no surprise, then, that Ocampos has some very impressive defensive numbers in particular, with his tally of 1.3 tackles per game in La Liga this season actually ranking him in the top ten among all of Leeds’ players – in fact, out of Bielsa’s more attacking options however, only Jack Harrison makes more tackles per match with 1.6.
As Chappelle says, the Argentine is also someone who battles hard in the 50/50s, and as per Sofascore, wins a mammoth 7.1 duels per game at an impressive success rate of 57%.
To put that into context, even the likes of Kalvin Phillips and Robin Koch win fewer duels than him, despite playing in holding midfield and as a centre-back respectively.
Given how he’s not only impressive with the ball, but also hard-working off it, the “electric” Ocampos appears to be the archetypal Bielsa player.
Everything the Argentine does seems to be with his full heart into it, and that should see him fit in perfectly at Elland Road.
Meanwhile, Leeds must surely regret selling this goal-scoring star…