Royal Antwerp’s CEO has confirmed that Mandela Keita is likely to depart with Leeds United keen to bring the OH Leuven loanee to the Premier League during the summer transfer window.
Keita has been described as a mix of N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba, and you can see why. The Belgium U21 international combines Kante’s ball-winning tenacity with the ball-carrying, press-resistance of his World Cup winning team-mate; the 20-year-old showcasing the wide variety of his attributes during a highly-impressive Jupiler League campaign.
And with Leeds unlikely to trigger the £33 million option-to-buy clause in Weston McKennie’s contract – even if Sam Allardyce succeeds in dragging his latest club clear of the relegation zone – Keita could potentially act as an affordable alternative.
According to reports in Belgium, via Het Nieuwsblad, Keita has admirers at Elland Road.
Leeds United like Belgium U21 star Mandela Keita
Royal Antwerp signed the youngster on loan from Jupiler League rivals Leuven in the January transfer window. But, according to CEO Sven Jaecques, Keita will not be staying at the Bosuilstadion on a permament basis, Antwerp giving Leeds a clear shot at a man who’s ‘natural talent’ has made him such a hit over the last few months.
“The (price-tag) is simply much too high. That is unfeasible,” Jaecques tells Extra Time. “We will not (sign him permanently). Mandela will play at OH Leuven again next season.”
Belgian publication Het Nieuwsblad do not share Jaecques’ confidence that Keita will be a Leuven player in 2023/24.
His parent club Leuven do not expect Keita to return. What’s more, the player himself ‘would like to play at a higher level’. Even if Leeds do succumb to relegation, the chance to represent one of Britain’s most storied clubs at a stadium as iconic at Elland Road is likely to appeal to a man who may be rapidly outgrowing the Belgian top-flight.
Blackburn Rovers and Norwich City are reportedly keen on Keita too. A £9 million fee is likely to beyond a Norwich side consigned to another season of Championship football, while Blackburn are also facing up to a place outside the play-offs.
Allardyce, meanwhile, became Leeds’ fourth head coach of a tumultuous campaign in midweek. The 68-year-old’s latest managerial spell begins away at Erling Haaland’s Manchester city on Saturday.
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