Why Jose Campana would be a huge signing for Leeds United
According to claims from Spanish outlet Super Deporte (h/t The Sun), Leeds United have been credited with an interest in Spanish playmaker Jose Campana, who currently plies his trade with Levante in the La Liga.
As per the report, the 27-year-old is rated at £27.5million by Levante and he has already held talks with his current employers to let him leave if Leeds come up with a good enough offer.
It has been claimed that the Whites could look elsewhere in the market if Levante refuse to budge on their asking price for Campana, but Marcelo Bielsa remains confident that the Spaniard is capable of making a huge difference to his side.
Profile
Jose Campana rose through the youth ranks of Sevilla in Spain but he struggled to establish himself as a regular fixture at his boyhood club. The central midfielder featured just 24 times for Sevilla in all competitions before completing a move to Crystal Palace in 2013.
However, the former Spanish U-21 international struggled to acclimatise to life in England, making just 6 appearances for the Eagles before joining German side FC Nurnberg on loan and eventually moving on to Sampdoria. Campana never made a competitive appearance for the Italian side, spending time on loan at Porto and Alcorcon before settling down at Levante.
The 27-year-old was instrumental as Levante secured promotion to the La Liga at the end of the 2016-17 season. Campana has since established himself as a quality central midfielder in the Spanish top-flight. The right-footed ace boasts an impressive tally of 7 goals and 20 assists in 109 La Liga outings for Levante.
Campana would add more quality to Leeds’ midfield
Mateusz Klich and Pablo Hernandez remain Bielsa’s go-to options in central midfield, with Kalvin Phillips clearly the undisputed first-choice in the deep-lying No.6 role as a shield for the rearguard.
However, it wouldn’t be such a good idea to expect Hernandez to play week in, week out, in the Premier League, considering that he’s already 35. Club-record signing Rodrigo Moreno is capable of playing in that No.10 position but his best qualities are perhaps better utilized in front of goal.
Leeds, of course, have promising youngsters like Mateusz Bogusz and Jamie Shackleton in the absence of long-term injury absentee Adam Forshaw to play in that central midfield role but they lack much professional experience under their belt.
Suffice to say, the Whites need more experienced cover in the middle of the park and Jose Campana ticks plenty of boxes to come through the door at Elland Road as a marquee signing. The Spaniard perfectly fits the bill as an experienced campaigner in his homeland with a proven track record of goals and assists, thus making him an excellent option for newly-promoted Leeds.
Notwithstanding the fact that he struggled to make a real impact in English football earlier in his career, Campana certainly deserves a second crack of the whip to prove himself in the PL. At 27, he’s a lot more matured and seems better equipped to adjust to the demands of playing in England after making more than 100 top-flight appearances in Spain.
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Verdict
Jose Campana still has several years left in his prime, thus making the Spaniard worth a significant outlay for Leeds United in the summer market. A midfielder with proven pedigree in one of the top leagues in Europe, it’s a no-brainer that the 27-year-old’s arrival will hand a significant boost to the West Yorkshire giants.
