Championship side Leeds United have not had much luck when signing players from the Eredivisie under Victor Orta.
Mimoun Mahi has been one of the most potent attacking threats in the Eredivisie over the last two seasons. With seven goals and four assists for Groningen this campaign, after 17 and three last time out, the Moroccan international has justifiably attracted the attention of Leeds United, according to the Yorkshire Evening Post.
And there appeared to be a good chance that Mahi could be on his way to Elland Road in January after the club’s president admitted that an exit was more than likely. Instead, however, the converted striker decided to stay in order to ensure continuity ahead of the World Cup in Russia this summer.
But it seems very unlikely that Mahi will still be a Groningen player at the start of next season.
Quick, clever and an excellent finisher, the 24-year-old would provide Leeds with a new attacking dimension should the Championship side get their man at last.
But, thanks to much-maligned sporting director Victor Orta, Mahi would arrive in West Yorkshire under a great deal of scrutiny, regardless of how impressive he has been since being turned into a more central attacker by Groningen coach Ernest Faber.
Mahi would be another relative unknown brought to Leeds from one of Europe’s smaller leagues and, unfortunately for him, the other two players brought to Elland Road by Orta have flopped badly – Jay-Roy Grot and Mateusz Klich.
So, if he does make the move, Mahi would be up against it to prove himself immediately. And it will be interesting to see whether the struggles of Grot and Klich would put the striker off a move to Leeds this summer.
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