Why Leeds United should take a punt on youngster Frederik Alves
According to claims from Danish outlet BT (h/t MSN), Leeds United are planning to hijack West Ham’s move for highly-rated defender Frederik Alves, who currently plies his trade with Silkeborg IF in the Danish second-tier.
The 20-year-old was understood to have agreed to personal terms of a move to join West Ham after the Hammers negotiated a £1.2million deal with Silkeborg earlier in the month. However, the newly-promoted Whites have now entered the race to sign the centre-back, with Dinamo Zagreb and Russian outfit FC Rostov also credited with an interest.
Although a deal can’t be completed before the transfer window reopens in January, the report adds that Leeds could well finalise a move for the youngster before the end of the week.
Profile
Frederik Alves started his footballing education in Denmark with Herfolge and Hvidovre before having a brief stint in the youth ranks of Coritiba in Brazil. He then returned to his homeland with Silkeborg IF, where he completed his development and made his senior debut in the Danish second-tier during the 2018-19 campaign.
The 20-year-old helped his team secure promotion to the top-flight and made 16 league appearances in the following campaign as Silkeborg suffered relegation. Alves has since started and has played almost every minute of Silkeborg’s opening seven league fixtures so far this season.
The central defender has made a total of 49 senior appearances for his boyhood club in all competitions so far while also representing Denmark at U-20 and U-21 levels.
Leeds would benefit from Alves’ potential
Leeds United added two international calibre centre-backs in Robin Koch and Diego Llorente to bolster Marcelo Bielsa’s backline.
However, the Whites are still somewhat light in their options at the heart of the defence. Captain Liam Cooper’s struggles with injuries early in the campaign have often forced the manager to rely on unproven Dutchman Pascal Struijk.
Despite catching the eye with their high-intensity attacking football, Leeds have often looked vulnerable at the back in the top-flight. That is something they will surely need to improve on in the coming months, so looking for some additional cover at the back should be high on the club’s agenda in January.
The Whites have, of course, got promising young defenders like Leif Davis and Oliver Casey in their ranks. But they lack enough senior experience under their belt to make an immediate transition to the Premier League.
Frederik Alves is hardly a finished article at 20 but the fact that he’s already playing regular first-team football, regardless of the league, is clearly indicative of the youngster’s impressive development.
To put things into perspective, Leeds should look to complete a deal for the Danish starlet with one eye on the future and then gradually phase him into the first-team mix over the next few years.
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Verdict
Frederik Alves might not fit the bill as an immediate game-changer in the Premier League but he certainly ticks the box as a promising young centre-back with potential. Of course, the 20-year-old’s rise to first-team prominence in Denmark is hardly a sure test of his credentials to make the grade in the Premier League.
However, he’s certainly got the raw physicality to cope with the demands of the English game, considering the Dane’s towering 6ft 3in frame. Hence, he’s well worth a gamble for Leeds United, who could be successful in unearthing the next gem from one of the lower leagues in Europe.
