According to Kicker, via GFNG, Leeds United are in the hunt to sign Union Berlin forward Sebastian Andersson this summer.
It’s claimed that the 28-year-old has a relatively low release clause thought to be around €5m (£4.5m) but the Yorkshire giants will have to battle the likes of Celtic, Newcastle United, West Brom and Brentford among others for his signature.
Andersson has been key to the Bundesliga outfit this term having survived their first season in the top-flight. His 12 goals and three assists would have undoubtedly helped matters.
Who would you rather sign in the summer?
Jean-Kevin Augustin
Sebastian Andersson
The Swedish international is perhaps the very definition of a target man as he has won 7.4 aerial duels on average throughout the 2019/20 campaign – that’s a total of 245 battles won from 33 appearances, via WhoScored.
Colossal.
He also became a history-maker having bagged the club’s first-ever Bundesliga strike, so his name will forever be etched in Berlin’s record books.
If these reports are true, it’ll leave Marcelo Bielsa with an interesting armoury for the top-flight – if they gain promotion – considering they’re obligated to purchase Jean-Kevin Augustin and have Patrick Bamford on the books. Tyler Roberts is too an option in the role.
Bamford is United’s top goalscorer, however, Andersson blows him out of the water statistically.
Yes, the English may top the number of goals scored but you’d have to factor in where both teams are – Berlin fighting for relegation may perhaps create fewer chances than promotion favourites Leeds.
We also know that Bamford is supremely wasteful with the west Yorkshiremen possessing the second-worst conversion rate in the league at just 12.4%.
Effectively, the 6 foot 3 colossus scores just as many goals from fewer attempts at goal and also averages more key passes and dribbles – hinting he’s a better fit for that Bielsa pressing game as well as managing to rack up 6.4 more aerial duels won per game, making him a huge threat.
At just £4.5m, this could be an absolute steal for Leeds.