Leeds United Opinion: Yannick Bolasie would be a risk-reward signing
According to a report from TEAMtalk, Leeds United have lined up Everton winger Yannick Bolasie as a potential target in the summer.
The same report claims that the Whites want to sign the 29-year-old if they manage to secure promotion to the Premier League.
Bolasie, who rose to prominence in the Premier League with Crystal Palace, made his move to Everton for a fee of £28 million back in 2016 on the back of a successful spell at Selhurst Park. However, the DR Congo international has made little impact at Goodison Park due to recurrent injuries.
The veteran looked a bit off-colour on his loan spell at Aston Villa earlier in the season but he has rediscovered his mojo since the turn of the year after terminating his loan spell at Villa Park. The 29-year-old has hit top gear at Anderlecht, scoring 4 times in 7 league games for the Belgian giants.
To put things into perspective, Bolasie has struggled for form and fitness in recent times but it could turn out to be a massive coup for Leeds United if the jet-heeled winger manages to find his feet in the Premier League once again.
The Congolese attacker boasts of a tally of 11 goals and 23 assists from 119 Premier League appearances for Everton and Crystal Palace combined.
Given his record and recent upturn of form at Anderlecht, Marcelo Bielsa has every reason to look at Bolasie as a potential option to add depth and experience to his attacking options, should the Whites secure promotion.
It is quite apparent that Everton manager Marco Silva doesn’t have the 29-year-old in his plans for the coming season. Given that he has flopped for a couple of seasons now, Bolasie’s market value has undoubtedly depreciated and he would probably be available for around half of the price that Everton paid for him back in 2016.
That should open the door for the Whites to strike a deal for him in the summer as well would come well under their budget.
Bolasie is a pacy winger who has been a bit inconsistent throughout his career in terms of end product but he is more than capable of terrorising full-backs on his day.
Known as a strong, powerful and athletic winger with a bagful of trickery, the Congolese international is versatile enough to play on either flank and also as a centre-forward.
Bielsa likes his wingers to run at their opposite number with pace and directness and push higher up the pitch, which should make Bolasie a useful asset to his philosophy.
Moreover, he is someone who tends to contribute a lot with his work-rate, often tracking back to help out the full-backs cut out the attacks.
Also, Leeds need more competition for places in the wide areas. Youngster Jack Clarke has enjoyed a breakthrough season while veteran Pablo Hernández continues to be one of the mainstays of the team’s attack.
However, Man City loanee Jack Harrison has had a disappointing loan spell and he is not going to stay at Elland Road beyond the current season, which should prompt the manager to make a move for Bolasie.
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With the prospect of automatic promotion back to the Premier League after 15 years very much on the cards, Leeds should not hesitate to splash the cash on the experienced winger in the summer to strengthen their chances surviving in the top flight.
