Who is Lukas Nmecha? All you need to know about Leeds United’s target
According to The Sun, Pep Guardiola’s mentor and new Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa is keen on landing hot prospect Lukas Nmecha on loan. Never heard that name before? Worry not.
Nmecha is the academy graduate Guardiola brought to Manchester City‘s first-team to provide cover for injured duo Gabriel Jesus and Leroy Sane last season.
Nmecha’s Background
A boyhood City fan, the 19-year-old was born in Germany before moving to England. Nmecha and his younger brother, Felix, have been at CFA since. Although he is still eligible to turn out for either Nigeria, England or Germany, Nmecha has been a regular in the English youth teams and he even bagged the winning goal in the Under-19 European Championship.
Nmecha’s Profile
Nmecha started his career as a winger and changed to a No.9 as he went up the age groups. Capable of excellently holding up the ball and ghosting into the box behind defences, he has been prolific in recent seasons. The teenager spent the last couple of seasons in the U21 and U23 age groups but is likely to head out on loan if he fails to make it into a star-studded City first-team.
Leeds United have expressed interest in the youngster, who perfectly fits the bill as a Marcelo Bielsa signing.
Over the course of the last two seasons, Nmecha has intermittently trained with the first-team. He made his debut coming on a substitute against Leicester City in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals. Nmecha went ahead to dispatch his penalty as the Sky Blues knocked out Leicester City. He made his Premier League debut against West Ham at the London Stadium.
Nmecha’s record in Manchester City’s youth levels is incredibly strong. Last season, the 19-year-old scored 15 goals in 11 games for the U23s. For the U18 side, Nmecha bagged 15 goals in 16 appearances. In the UEFA Youth League, the teen has eight goals to his name after only featuring 14 times.
With his long-term future set to continue in England, Leeds United should seize any opportunity that presents itself. In fact, Nmecha should be considered a top-priority target by Bielsa, given his eye for goal.
Read More: Why this £11m-rated Championship goal machine could fire Leeds United to the Premier League
It is only Manchester City’s resources and host of world-class options up front that have held him back from enjoying a breakthrough so far. Hence, they must part ways with him temporarily while Leeds should jump at the prospect of signing him this summer.
