Leeds United and other clubs in the Football League Championship understand that various elements need to come together for them to rise to and remain in the Premier League for a long time. One element that requires detailed attention is the transfer market.
Leeds United certainly understand this particular line of thinking, and the storied West Yorkshire side will look to improve upon their 13th-place finish in the Championship table last season.
New manager Garry Monk brings Premier League experience and represents a fresh start as United looks to bring first-division football back to Elland Road. Having only signed a one-year rolling contract, the former Swansea City manager will want to immediately impact ownership and gain their future confidence in his leadership ability.
One transfer target that could help accomplish this objective is 22-year-old NEC Nijmegen forward Anthony Limbombe. The young winger has displayed incredible potential, and the club has been interested in his services for over a year. With reports that Limbombe has already handed in a transfer request to his current employer, we highlight what Leeds supporters can expect if he is brought into the squad for the upcoming campaign.
SPEED & FLEXIBILITY IN THE LINEUP
Limbombe can bring both pace and creativity from almost anywhere on the pitch and can line up on either the left or right wing in the attacking half. However, his ability to play centrally in the midfield may serve the best immediate purpose for Leeds. With his incredible speed and ability to play various positions, he may be quite useful to Garry Monk as he navigates his first season in charge.
He has played in the #10 position in both Belgium and the Netherlands and can provide excellent service to teammates in transition. With seven goals and two assists in the Eredivisie last season, his role as a creative midfielder will continue to blossom. Forwards like Chris Wood and Kemar Roofe stand to benefit greatly from Limbombe’s skill set, and Monk could see goal-scoring numbers improve for the entire team.
EUROPEAN EXPERIENCE
The Mechelen native would be able to bring both Champions League and Europa League experience to Leeds United, which would benefit every player in the squad. Leeds is looking for promotion back to the Premier League and European competitions back to its schedule to be among the elite in England.
With KRC Genk in the Belgian Jupiler Pro League, Limbombe was part of a title-winning team during the 2010-11 season and, at a very young age, could participate in the continent’s top tournaments. Testing himself against the best clubs in Europe only helped his confidence, which shows in the attacking flair he can provide on the ball. This type of insight would be an instant boost to many intangible areas for the young players at United.
FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS
With the talent and skill he offers at only 22, it is more than reasonable to think that Limbombe’s development will continue upward in the coming years. Assuming he remains internationally with the Belgian national team, he could certainly become an even bigger star with players like Eden Hazard and Kevin de Bruyne serving as mentors in the game.
As United returns to the Premier League and works towards sustaining that status, they will require smart financial choices in the transfer market. Understanding that a major profit could be available on an estimated 1 million Euro investment, Limbombe’s transfer would most likely be a beneficial move for the club.