Why Gyrano Kerk would be a handy signing for Leeds United
According to claims from Dutch outlet De Telegraaf (h/t Leeds Live), Premier League newcomers Leeds United have been credited with an interest in Dutch winger Gyrano Kerk, who currently plies his trade with FC Utrecht in the Eredivisie.
As per the report, Utrecht value the 24-year-old at €10m and the Whites are now leading the race to sign Kerk, with Italian clubs Hellas Verona and Cagliari unwilling to meet that kind of valuation for the versatile winger.
Profile
Gyrano Kerk started his footballing education at HFC Haarlem and had stints at DWS and Zeeburgia before completing his development in the youth ranks of FC Utrecht.
The winger made his first-team debut during the 2013-14 season but featured largely for the club’s reserve side while also spending time on loan at Helmond Sport in the second-tier to continue his development.
The 24-year-old eventually established himself as a regular fixture at Utrecht during the 2017-18 campaign and has since gone on to carve out a reputation for himself as one of the brightest young homegrown talents to come out of the Eredivisie.
Kerk had an immensely productive campaign on all fronts last term, registering 10 goals and 8 assists in 24 league outings while assisting four in four cup games to go along with a goal in the qualifying rounds of the Europa League. (h/t Transfermarkt)
The right-footed wide player has accumulated an impressive tally of 34 goals and 36 assists in 137 appearances for Utrecht in all competitions.
Kerk would add more depth to Leeds’ attack
Leeds United currently have Helder Costa and Jack Harrison as their first-choice wide attacking options, with both players making a positive start to the Premier League campaign.
However, the amount of workload they have to shoulder in Marcelo Bielsa’s system, coupled with the challenge of having to compete on multiple fronts, means that the Whites need some quality cover and competition for Costa and Harrison.
Stuart Dallas and Ezgjan Alioski are primarily wingers by trade but Bielsa has apparently been more inclined to utilise them in the left-back department. Hence, it is a no-brainer that Leeds need more depth on the flanks.
Gyrano Kerk, to that end, ticks all boxes to come through the door. The Dutchman can be an fine addition for the Whites if his eye-watering numbers in the Eredivisie are anything to go by.
Essentially a right-winger by trade, the Dutchman is versatile enough to play out wide on the other side and also through the middle as a centre-forward.
Hence, his arrival would not only reduce the workload on the likes of Costa and Harrison but also offer Bielsa with quality cover for Patrick Bamford and Rodrigo in front of goal.
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Verdict
It is true that numbers in the Eredivisie can sometimes be quite deceptive, especially for clubs in the Premier League. However, for every Afonso Alves and Davy Klaassen, there is a Christian Eriksen.
And the Leeds United fans have enough reason to be optimistic regarding the club’s links with Gyrano Kerk, given his impressive displays with Utrecht. The 24-year-old still has his best years ahead of him and his modest price tag certainly makes him worth a punt for the West Yorkshire giants.
