Leeds United have been keeping tabs on Martin Terrier for quite some time…
What’s the word?
That’s according to CBS Sports reporter Ben Jacobs, who revealed to GIVEMESPORT that the Yorkshire giants have done a lot of work surrounding the Stade Rennes striker.
“Terrier is the one that Leeds have kind of liked for a long, long time,” he said.
“And whilst looking at Kalimuendo, they were concurrently determining whether there was any possibility of signing him. And they’ve tracked him for a long time, they’ve put in a lot of work, they’ve done a lot of analysis.”
The 25-year-old is likely to cost in the region of £30m, as per The Athletic’s Phil Hay.
Shades of Sadio Mane
It’s now on director of football Victor Orta to end Leeds’ hunt for a new striker by making his move for the Frenchman.
Terrier is fresh off a campaign that saw him score a whopping 21 goals across 37 league appearances, also providing seven assists in all competitions, which took his total for the Ligue 1 club to 30 goals.
Meanwhile, the Whites had to suffer in front of goal in the same season. Leading talisman Patrick Bamford was restricted to nine outings in the Premier League because of injury and the recently-departed Raphinha led the team for goals (11) and creativity (1.9 key passes per game).
Therefore the need for a new frontman could be crucial to ensure that another relegation battle does not happen.
Terrier is an exciting target, seeing as he’s been likened to former Liverpool star Sadio Mane in terms of statistical profile by FBref.
When compared to other European players in his role as a seconary striker or winger, having been deployed out wide several times too, the 25-year-old gem ranks inside the top 3% for non-penalty goals (0.61 per 90), the top 9% for total shots (3.1 per 90) and the top 15% for touches in the opposition box, also via FBref.
This ability to cut inside and unleash a shot has also earned comparison to that of Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, who just like Mane, played both on the right and through the middle.
“He’s a very quick, left-sided right-footed attacking player whose trademark is coming in off the left flank and whipping shots in; a-la Thierry Henry,” claimed European football writer Tom Williams to the Sky Sports Transfer Talk podcast.
Terrier has also been lauded as a potential “real coup” for Leeds by journalist Pete O’Rourke during an interview with Football FanCast.
As such, the Spanish chief must look to seal a move for the Rennes frontman before deadline day, which is less than two weeks away. At £30m, it could be a risk worth taking as Leeds would be getting a monster that is shades of Mane, who was a lethal threat in the top-flight for several years.
AND in other news, Orta could seal “amazing” signing with late Leeds bid for £15m “maverick”…
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