Leeds United should still be hopeful of signing Bournemouth winger Marc Pugh.
Bournemouth’s Marc Pugh celebrates scoring their third goal with Lewis Cook
Assisted by a superb pass from a certain Lewis Cook, Marc Pugh scored a fine goal for Bournemouth at the weekend as he delivered his best performance of the season.
Pugh scored one and assisted another as he helped the Cherries demolish Middlesbrough at the Vitality Stadium in a welcome 4-0 victory.
Pugh is a player who was linked with an exit from Bournemouth earlier this season, with the Yorkshire Evening Post reporting via The Sun’s print edition, that Leeds United were keen on the 30-year-old.
Deal still do-able
Pugh’s performance came in his 250th appearance for Bournemouth and watching him, you might wonder how they could possibly let him go, yet context is everything.
This was the time Pugh had played in since December that he has either scored or provided an assist, a stretch which covers 16 appearances.
It also came against a team in Middlesbrough who are Championship bound, with no permanent manager, and clearly not Premier League standard.
Bournemouth’s Marc Pugh celebrates scoring
Against Premier League heavy weights like Tottenham and Chelsea in recent weeks, Pugh has made zero impact, and would benefit from dropping down a level.
Experience and ability
Pugh’s performance was illustration he can still cut it, and will have given interested sides reason to want to pursue him this summer.
Leeds’ play-off challenge looks set to fall just short this season, and it’s no secret that wing play has been an element they have sought to improve.
Leeds’ Mo Barrow in action with Ipswich’s Jonas Knudsen
Loanee Mo Barrow did not even make the squad at the weekend against Burton, while Alfonso Pedraza and Stuart Dallas also found themselves benched.
Adding a player like Pugh who has ample experience could really benefit Leeds’ young squad and help them in pressurised situations.
At the right price, Bournemouth could be tempted to let him leave despite his stunning weekend performance.
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