Arena Kombetare, Tirana, Albania - May 25, 2022. AS Roma's Nicolo Zaniolo substituted.
Leeds United have been named in the race to sign AS Roma attacker Nicolo Zaniolo.
The Lowdown: Gnonto success
The Whites are enjoying great success after signing an Italy international in the summer, with Wilfried Gnonto going from strength to strength at Elland Road.
The 19-year-old cost Leeds around £3.8m on deadline day and has been in fine form in recent weeks, scoring his first Premier League goal against West Ham.
He followed that up with an impressive display against Aston Villa that caught the eye of Gary Neville and channelled his inner Paolo Di Canio with an excellent FA Cup volley against Cardiff City on Wednesday.
The Latest: Zaniolo interest
Calciomercato shared an update regarding Zaniolo’s future on Thursday, where Leeds were named. They said that Zaniolo is fed up at Roma, with England a potential destination for the left-footed player.
The report claimed that Arsenal, Tottenham and West Ham are possible destinations, with ‘first polls also from Leeds and Newcastle’.
The Verdict: Unlikely?
Zaniolo is primarily an attacking midfielder but can also turn out as a right winger or as a second striker. Victor Orta has already bolstered the club’s attacking ranks with a club-record move for Georginio Rutter, so the club seem well-stocked in the final third, especially with Gnonto’s recent rise.
A new defensive or central midfielder could be more beneficial to Jesse Marsch, with Marc Roca, Tyler Adams and Adam Forshaw the only experienced options available after Mateusz Klich’s exit.
Therefore, it could be wise if Leeds allowed their Premier League rivals to fight for Zaniolo, placing their focus on additions in the middle of the park in the final weeks of the window.
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