Why targeting Oliver Norwood is a good decision for Leeds United
Leeds United are close to signing Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Oliver Norwood and are confident to get the deal done before deadline day. Leeds Live reports that Marcelo Bielsa’s men are quite close to securing their target.
The Whites got off to a perfect start in the Championship season when they comfortably defeated Stoke City 3-1 in the weekend. However, Bielsa must add more personnel to his squad in order to have a sustained crack at Premier League promotion during a long season of 46 games.
Norwood was loaned out to Fulham last season and the Brighton man was certainly impressive. His quality was on display last season and Leeds would do a great piece of business if they sign the Northern Ireland international.
Here’s why Norwood will be a good inclusion to the Leeds squad:
Player Analysis – Oliver Norwood
Age – 27
Main Position – Central midfield
Norwood is a technical midfielder who can play as a No. 8 and control the game. His passing abilities in central areas are good enough to create chances towards the goal for attacking players The 27-year-old has a pass completion rate of over 84%, with a key pass rate of 1 per game.
The Irishman possesses the propensity to pick out runners from deeper positions with either a long ball or a diagonal switch, delivering them at an average of 3.6 per game. He is the epitome of hard work and game awareness when he covers the ground to help his defensive mates out.
Norwood has a tackle and interception rate of 1.3 and 1 per game respectively, depicting his attributes of breaking up the opposition attacks. Furthermore, he seems to prefer having a pop from the distance if given space and time on the ball. Overall, the 27-year-old is a complete midfield player and a good passer of the ball, which should help him thrive under Bielsa.
Read More: Good job Marcelo Bielsa – Signing this 28-year old was a brilliant coup for Leeds United
Verdict
Leeds United may require another midfielder in their squad to challenge for a Premier League spot this season. So, getting a player of Norwood’s quality will be of great importance to them as a team. The Irishman possesses the right tools to become an ideal fit for Bielsa’s high-intensity passing football. Hence, they must get the player before the transfer deadline.
Stats Courtesy – Who Scored.com (Stats of Norwood for 2017/18 season with Fulham)
