Marcelo Bielsa Eyeing A £25m Swoop For Brentford Man: A Massive Coup For Leeds United? | OneFootball

According to Mirror, Leeds United are mulling over a move for Said Benrahma. The Brentford forward, valued around £25 million, has been identified as one of Marcelo Bielsa’s top targets as he looks to add more quality in the final third, ahead of the new Premier League season. Leeds United’s pursuit of Benrahma has been helped by Brentford’s defeat to Fulham in the promotion playoff.

Said Benrahma: The best player in the Championship?

A product of the Nice youth academy, Benrahma has been a revelation for Brentford this season. He has flourished under manager Thomas Frank’s attack-oriented setup, scoring 17 goals and providing nine assists in just 43 matches. Only three players, including teammate Ollie Watkins, has been involved in more goals in the 2019/20 Championship campaign.

What makes Benrahma a class apart, is that his overall contributions aren’t only restricted to productivity in the final third. The playmaker’s tally of 97 key passes is fourth highest in the Championship while the Brentford man leads the league in terms of successful dribbles. He also leads the league when it comes to attempts on goal, having amassed a whopping 177 shots throughout the course of the campaign.

Benrahma’s all-round contributions in the attack have not only helped Brentford finish the Championship campaign as the league’s highest scorer but also pushed them towards the final of the promotion playoff. They were unlucky to miss out on promotion, however, losing 2-1 to Fulham on Tuesday.

Why Leeds United could be a perfect match for Benrahma

Having performed so well in the Championship, it’s only natural that Benrahma will prefer to play in the Premier League next season. Leeds United, in that regard, will provide him with the ideal platform to showcase his qualities at the highest level of football.

Indeed, the Whites are running short of creative options in the final third, with Pablo Hernandez nearing the final phase of his career. Jack Harrison and Helder Costa have both done quite well, but it remains to be seen whether they can replicate that performance in the Premier League, and that is where Benrahma could come into the fray.

The Algerian could serve as an ideal upgrade over someone like Mateusz Klich as well as an alternative for Hernandez. His qualities in the number ten role are sure to add more quality in Bielsa’s offensive unit. Additionally, the player can also feature in the wider attacking positions, thus adding more options at the disposal of the Argentine mastermind.

However, it remains to be seen whether or not Leeds United can secure the services of Benrahma as there will likely be a sizeable amount of competition following his exploits at Brentford this past season.

Stat courtesy: Whoscored