Thierry Henry thinks reported Leeds target can do something ‘so few players’ can

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Monaco fans won’t look back on Thierry Henry’s three-month spell in the dugout with too much fondness.

But what the former France great lacked in results, winning just four of 20 games in charge, he made up for in youth development.

Between October 2018 and January 2019, Benoit Badiashile and Sofiane Diop were given a run of games in Ligue 1 for the first time.

Flash forward to March 2021 and the big centre-back and all-action midfielder are two of the first names on Niko Kovac’s team sheet, shining as title-chasing Monaco defeated Paris Saint-Germain 2-0 at the Parc des Princes last week.

But, unlike Badiashile and Diop, Romain Faivre was forced to leave the Principality to fulfil his vast potential, joining Brest for a bargain £300,000 last summer.

But you’d imagine if Henry had stayed for a few more months, Faivre wouldn’t have been allowed to depart – certainly not for such a minor fee.

“Sofiane Diop, Benoit Badiashile, Romain Faivre. These are players I helped to develop as best I could and I’m happy for that. Romain Faivre has something few players have – he breaks lines,” the Arsenal legend tells SoFoot of a 22-year-old midfielder with vast potential and substantial technical ability.

With five goals, three assists and a string of man of the match performances under his belt, Faivre won’t be sticking around at Brest for long. Manchester United and PSG have been linked, although the Pirates would surely only consider selling their midfield diamond for a substantial profit (Le10 Sport).

From £300,000 last year, Faivre should cost an eight-figure sum these days.

According to L’Equipe, Leeds United have also joined the race for one of French football’s most exciting young talents.

And if Marcelo Bielsa’s side have one Achilles heel – not counting their dreadful set-piece record – it’s that they can be guilty of labouring when asked to open up disciplined, deep-lying defences.

But if Thierry Henry is right and Faivre can do something few others can – break the lines with piercing, probing through balls – he could make an already exciting Leeds side even more threatening.