Leeds United have already made their first signing of the summer in the shape of Junior Firpo, but if reports are to be believed, there could be an even more exciting player arriving at Elland Road.
Indeed, the Whites have reportedly bid for Lyon’s Maxwel Cornet, and there’s reason to believe that he’d be excellent under Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds.
First things first, Cornet is a wonderfully talented player. He has almost 250 games for Lyon under his belt at the age of 24, he’s been a Champions League regular for a number of years and he’s been coveted by some of Europe’s biggest clubs in the past including Tottenham and Barcelona.
The Ivorian may be a tricky winger, but he has another vital quality that Marcelo Bielsa loves in a player, and that’s versatility.
Indeed, Cornet can play down either flank, but he’s also able to play as a left-back and as a striker.
All in all, Transfermarkt has Cornet down as being able to play in six different positions, and that’s a great asset for any Bielsa player to have, just look at what Stuart Dallas has been able to achieve with his versatility over the past two seasons.
However, in terms of style of play, Cornet is nothing like Dallas. In fact, on the pitch, he looks a lot more like Raphinha.
Just look at the way he’s torn Manchester City apart in the past. He has four goals in three games against Pep Guardiola’s side in the Champions League, utilising a mix of pace, skill and a wand of a left-foot to rip the Premier League giants to shreds.
Two of his four goals against City have been curling left-footed efforts from outside the 18-yard box, and you can’t watch those as a Leeds fan and not be reminded of Raphinha.
Imagine being able to combine elements of Dallas’ versatility with Raphinha’s pace, skill and guile, you’d have the perfect Bielsa player on your hands, and that may be what Cornet is.
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