Ivory Coast international, Maxwel Cornet, in action for Lyon. (imago Images)
A report by Leeds Live states that Leeds United are believed to have offered £10million to Lyon for Maxwel Cornet. The Ivorian is a long-term transfer target for the Whites, but it seems like the club are serious about signing him this summer – as an offer has been made by them. Cornet has been at Lyon since 2015.
Since then, he has made 251 senior appearances for the club, which is a remarkable number for a 24-year-old. Marcelo Bielsa’s men finished 9th in the table last time around in their first season after promotion. Is Cornet a player that can help the Argentine maintain those standards next season as well?
The biggest aspect of Maxwel Cornet’s game seems to be his astounding versatility. The Ivorian can play on either flank, as a wide-midfielder, as a left-back, and even as a centre-forward. These are all positions where Leeds would welcome a signing to provide them further strength in depth.
Cornet has predominantly played on the flanks but does having Raphinha and Jack Harrison suffice their need? Not really. Any top club would want healthy competition in their attack. Harrison starts on the left-hand side on most occasions while the Brazilian Raphina has the right flank locked down.
Helder Costa can offer that back-up for one of them, but 21-year-old Ian Poveda, signed from Manchester City last year, is too young to be thrown into the spotlight as of now. That is probably the reason why he is yet to start a single league game for them so far. Cornet, with his immense experience, can be a viable option in that regard.
Anyone who has made so many starts in top-flight football, including the Champions League, won’t just look to be a benchwarmer. The 24-year-old, if he does join, would want to be a starter for the club and that is the kind of competition that could see Leeds prosper in the attack even more.
The club also lost Ezgjan Alioski this summer as the North Macedonian did renew his deal at Elland Road. They have signed Junior Firpo from Barcelona to cover up that hole (h/t The Mirror), but the club lacks another natural left-back to offer him competition or backup. Cornet fits the bill, as he played most of last season in that area.
The former Metz player can also ensure that Bielsa has a wide range of options when selecting his No.9. Patrick Bamford and Rodrigo are the club’s two preferred centre-forwards, but Cornet can also slot in there if the boss wants to shake things up or rotate his squad over the course of the season.
If Leeds can somehow get the Ligue 1 outfit to accept an offer and send their player to West Yorkshire, it would be a very smart acquisition. It is not every day that a club can sign a player like the Ivorian that plugs multiple gaps in the squad. And at the age of just 24, he also has enough time to prosper and develop under the watchful eyes of Bielsa.
