Charlton Athletic don’t want to let Ricky Holmes leave so Leeds United turning their attention to Ezgjan Alioski makes sense.
Thomas Christiansen
Leeds United fans may be forced to devote quite a lot of their free time to scrolling through Wikipedia over the next couple of weeks.
If new manager Thomas Christiansen was an unknown quantity, three of his first reported transfer targets are far from household names. After Polish international Mateusz Klich and exciting Spaniard Samu Saiz, Blick claims that Macedonian international Ezgjan Alioski is the latest name on the club’s radar.
Scoring 17 and assisting a further 14 at Swiss side Lugano last season, the 25-year-old clearly has talent and end product to match. However, his outstanding campaign means it’s not just Leeds who have made their interest known.
The Leicester Mercury claims that a trio of Bundesliga clubs, Bayer Leverkusen, Hertha Berlin and Eintracht Frankfurt, are all tracking Alioski’s development.
And the report adds that Leicester City even view the winger as a potential replacement for the wantaway Riyad Mahrez.
Riyad Mahrez has made it clear that he wants to leave
However, with another of Leeds’ reported targets proving very difficult to lure away from his current club, Christiansen will be hoping that Alioski is within the club’s grasp.
Holm-grown talent
Kent Live claimed earlier this month that Charlton Athletic wideman Ricky Holmes was on Leeds’ radar with just 12 months remaining on his current deal. However, it appears that the League One side, who named the 29-year-old their Player of the Year for 2016/17, are determined to keep Holmes at The Valley.
Charlton Athletic’s Ricky Holmes
They have rejected at least two bids from Sheffield United and have plans to hand the former Portsmouth winger a new contract after he netted an impressive 12 goals last season.
And with Charlton determined to return to the Championship as soon as possible, Leeds certainly have their work cut out attempting to lure Holmes away this summer.
Fortunately, the stats suggest Alioski could be a fine alternative.
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