According to an earlier report from Russian source Championat, Leeds United had offered a staggering £10.5million to bring Spartak Moscow winger Ze Luis to Elland Road in the January transfer window. However, a move to English football failed to materialize and the attacker continued to excel in the Russian Premier League.
A youth product of Portuguese club Gil Vicente, Ze Luis helped his boyhood club achieve promotion to the top-flight before signing for Braga in 2012. The 28-year-old tasted commendable success at Braga where he registered 15 goals and 6 assists from 47 appearances across all competitions, also spending time on loan at his former club Gil Vicente and Videoton in Hungary.
The 17-cap Cape Verdean international made his move to Spartak Moscow in 2015 and he hasn’t looked back since then, accumulating 32 goals and 22 assists from 97 appearances across all competitions. The 28-year-old spearheaded his team to the domestic double in the 2016-17 season, playing a key role in their return to the European front.
Standing at 6ft 1in with a lanky frame, Ze Luis is particularly well-built for a winger and it is due to his physical attributes and eye for goal that he has been used as a centre-forward in recent times. The Cape Verdean international has the pace and dribbling skills to wreak havoc through the opposition’s defence, often using his instincts to make subtle runs behind the backline.
Known for his agility and clinical finishing as a centre-forward, the 28-year-old has the versatility to play anywhere across the forward line. Not only is he adept at linking up with his teammates with clever touches and flicks in the final third but he is also very strong in the air, which makes him a potent threat from crosses and set pieces. Ze Luis knows how to use his left foot to find the net from close range and he can be a handful for any defence on a given day.
To put things into perspective, he has already shown enough promise in the Russian Premier League and the Europa League and at 28, the time might just be right for him to take the next big step in his career. To be more precise, Premier League strugglers Southampton should consider a move for him next summer.
Southampton have struggled to hit the ground running this term in the Premier League and the Saints once again dropped down to the relegation zone following their 2-1 defeat to Cardiff City. Ralph Hasenhuttl has tried his utmost to bring the best out of the players after taking over the reins from Mark Hughes but Southampton desperately need more depth in their attack next season if they manage to beat the drop.
Charlie Austin, Danny Ings and Shane Long have all blown hot and cold while Nathan Redmond and marquee signing in the summer, Mohamed Elyounoussi, have been equally disappointing. The Saints are in dire need of a dynamic attacker who can score as well as create goals and Ze Luis certainly fits the bill at St. Mary’s.
That said, they should go all out to land him ahead of the upcoming season.