Leeds United coach Jesse Marsch is a big fan of Atlas de Guadalajara striker Julian Quinones, according to FootMercato, though the Premier League outfit face competition from France.
With Charles de Ketelaere on his way to AC Milan and with Arnaud Kalimuendo seemingly keen to fight for his place at Paris Saint-Germain, Leeds are casting their net a little wider in pursuit of a new centre-forward.
And we can only imagine that the traffic on Quinones’ Wikipedia page is about to go through the roof. A 25-year-old former Colombia U20 international, Quinones is hardly a household name in West Yorkshire. But that could soon change.
Quinones provided 14 goals and nine assists for a high-flying Atlas side last term, after all..
Powerful, quick and skilful, the former UNAL forward loves to pick up possession out wide – usually on the left – before driving towards goal. He’s got a penchant for the eye-catching too; Whether that be a rocket of a shot from long-range, or a clever flick to bamboozle a nearby defender.
And Quinones’ statistics certainly paint the picture of a forward who can both score and create. Perhaps he can be utilised alongside Patrick Bamford, rather than instead of him, giving Marsch added depth and flexibility in attack.
Leeds United turn to Julian Quinones
According to FootMercato, Quinones has ‘desires of Europe’. And after firing Altas to their second consecutive Liga MX title, a player named in the division’s Team of the Year has earned the admiration of the man sitting in the Elland Road dugout.
Marsch, the report adda, is a big fan. Leeds are likely to face competition from a Strasbourg team who finished sixth in Ligue 1 last term.
Quinones has four years left on his Atlas contract. It is not certain how much Leeds would need to pay, though Quinones will come a lot cheaper than De Ketelaere and Kalimuendo.
The former is on the verge of bringing an end to one of this summer’s longest-running sagas, having agreed a five-year deal worth around £40,000-a-week at the Serie A champions (Gazzetta dello Sport). Not that everyone is happy with De Ketelaere’s decision to choose Milan over West Yorkshire.
“Charles does not want to play football at a club who fought against relegation,” adds the one-time Ajax striker.
“Leeds have played the best football in the world under (Marcelo) Bielsa in recent years. And (Marsch), who wanted De Ketelaere and immediately promised the desired 40 million euros, plays just as offensively,” says former Dutch international Jan Mulder.
“Exactly the type of game that suits De Ketelaere.
“The Premier League, where the pace is fierce and the opposition fiercer, is better and far more attractive than the faded glory of Serie A. (Turning down Leeds is) the mistake of the year.”
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