da dobrowin： According to a recent report from the Yorkshire Evening Post, Che Adams is Leeds United’s number one transfer target this month.
da apostebet： The current Southampton striker is, according to the same source, viewed as the ideal replacement for Eddie Nketiah, who has now returned to his parent club Arsenal.
Adams is yet to score in the Premier League in the first 22 games of the ongoing 2019/20 but is seen as someone who could bolster Marcelo Bielsa’s frontline.
But just who exactly is the 23-year-old attacker and what can he bring to the Whites?
To answer those questions, we sought the opinion of those who know him best…
Kevin Wilson, Adams’ former coach
Wilson was Adams’ former gaffer back at Ilkeston FC, where he played before his transfer to Bramall Lane.
And even back then, the now 23-year-old forward was quite impressive in his showings and the type of player who makes you stand up and take notice.
Here’s what Wilson said about him to The Star:
“Che is one of those players that comes along every so often and makes you think, ‘wow’. He has a real knack of doing things in games that really make you stand up and take notice.
“He’s got pace in abundance, but he’s really powerful too. Like the rest of us, Che needs a little bit of luck but if he continues to progress as he is, then he can go all the way in the game. He’s got it all.
“His biggest asset is that knack of changing games in the blink of an eye. He stands defenders up and then leaves them for dead. In fact, I’d say he’s capable of doing things that I haven’t seen players do for a long, long time.”
Gary Rowett, former Birmingham coach
Rowett used to be in charge of Birmingham, one of Adams’ former clubs.
He remembers clearly how it was head of analysis, Joe Carnell, that first discovered the young player before he ultimately signed for the club in 2016.
Here’s what he said on Sky Sports EFL Matters, as quoted by the Birmingham Mail:
“Our head of analysis Joe Carnell was always banging on about him and the more I watched of him, the more I liked him.
“He just has an all-round game, he’s a player we tried to bring to Stoke in the summer but we failed. But he’s got a bit of everything.
“Che is a Premier League player in the waiting.”
Call yourself a Leeds expert? How much did each of these January signings cost?
Chris Sutton, pundit
Sutton is a former Birmingham forward and a regular pundit on BT Sport.
One player who certainly caught his eye back in 2019 was Adams.
Here’s what Sutton said during an interview promoting The Sportsman’s Perfect 10 game, as quoted by the Birmingham Mail:
“Che Adams I like. I think he is a tremendous young talent with great movement.
“Adams is a really exciting prospect. He’s got good pace is intelligent and I think he is going places.”
Verdict
It would seem that Marcelo Bielsa and Leeds simply can’t go wrong with Adams.
Snatching the 23-year-old from the Saints will be easier said than done, with Ralph Hasenhuttl admitting earlier this month that he can’t consider loaning him out, but it’s a deal the Whites should be chasing regardless.