da bet7： [ad_pod ]
da bet7： This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…
According to Sky Sports, Arsenal prospect Eddie Nketiah is heading to Leeds to undergo a medical, before completing a season-long loan move to Marcelo Bielsa’s side.
What’s the word?
The 20-year-old was one of the shining stars of Arsenal’s pre-season this summer under Unai Emery, and it initially appeared the north London side were keen on having him around as a back-up striker to Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
However, it was then reported Nketiah was being put up for loan, and despite suggestions Bristol City were the front-runners for his signature, Leeds have stolen a march.
[ad_pod ]
Sky Sports add that discussions between Nketiah and Bielsa swung things Leeds’ way, and the England U21 international now looks set for a campaign in the Championship.
Bielsa’s guidance
Whilst Nketiah would no doubt have learned a lot staying at Arsenal and being shown the ropes by the likes of Lacazette and Aubameyang, a full season of first-team football at a senior level will do the striker the world of good.
But even more so than that, plying his trade under Bielsa for a year could be a career-changing moment for the young forward. The Leeds boss is well-renowned for his tactical genius and comes with the glowing recommendation of some of football’s most high-profile managers, including Pep Guardiola.
Bielsa will give Nketiah a footballing education he may not have found elsewhere, and will help improve his work off the ball in particular. How to press, timing of runs and being the side’s focal point. Emery himself is considered somewhat of a tactical coach, so having a season under Bielsa will simply help Nketiah acclimatise that much better when he does eventually make his return to Arsenal.
[ad_pod ]