There’s no doubting Nathan Thomas’ potential – but the question is whether that is enough for a Leeds United side desperately in need of a cutting edge.
Hadi Sacko is the very definition of an erratic winger. Leeds United’s Sporting Lisbon loanee may have pace to burn but it seems his brain is a few yards seconds slower than his feet.
The fact that Sacko has scored just twice and contributed three assists in 38 Championship appearances speaks volumes – the Malian’s penchant for exploding beyond defenders before running out of ideas with the goal in sight has spawned infinite social media rants in recent months.
As such, many Leeds supporters wouldn’t lose too much sleep if the club decided against attempting to sign Sacko permanent in the summer.
And reports in the Northern Echo that The Whites are plotting a £300,000 move for Hartlepool United youngster Nathan Thomas suggests manager Garry Monk may already be sounding out potential replacements.
With the North East outfit slipping out of the Football League for the first time in their history, it appears that the 22-year-old is certain to depart – despite the fact his below-par second half of the season contributed to the club’s downfall.
‘Frustrating’
And Hartlepool fans will surely agree with the assessment of midfielder Michael Woods after Thomas tormented Morecambe with two goals and an assist in a 5-2 win last April.
“Nathan is frustrating at times but he’s unplayable at times,’’ Woods told the Northern Echo.
“Sometimes when you are watching you think ‘what are you doing coming inside? That’s what the full-back wants you to do’.
“I want to see him getting his head down, run down the line and skin his marker like I know he can. He’s so fast and when he performs like that, he’s unplayable.”
Leeds fans could be forgiven for having a few flashbacks of Sacko darting down blind alleys. Clearly, Thomas is another raw talent – the question, however, is whether The Whites need consistency rather than potential.
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