Why Nicolae Stanciu could be a smart signing for Leeds United
According to the Daily Mail, Premier League newcomers Leeds United have made an enquiry about the availability of Romanian playmaker Nicolae Stanciu, who currently plies his trade with Czech giants Slavia Prague.
As per the source, the Whites are targeting four to five new signings in the summer window following their long-awaited return to the top-flight. Stanciu, who is rated at £7million, is amongst an extensive list of potential recruits drawn up by the Elland Road hierarchy.
Marcelo Bielsa is keen to bolster his forward line and creative midfield department while bringing in reinforcements at left-back and centre-back remains a priority for the Argentine tactician.
Profile
Born in Cricau, Romania, Stanciu rose through the youth ranks of Unirea Alba Lulia in his homeland and also featured for Vaslui in the Romanian top-flight before earning a move to heavyweights Steaua Bucuresti in 2013.
The 27-year-old made 136 appearances for FCSB, scoring 33 goals and accumulating 25 assists, while also making a name for himself in the Champions League and Europa League.
Stanciu joined Belgian giants Anderlecht in 2016, where he spent a single season and followed it up with spells at Sparta Prague and Al-Ahli in the Middle East before moving to Slavia Prague in the summer of 2019.
A full international for Romania since 2016, Stanciu has accumulated 10 goals in 37 senior caps, representing his nation at UEFA Euro 2016.
Leeds’ current attacking scenario
The Whites finished as the outright winners of the 2019-20 Championship with 77 goals, the joint second-best scoring record in the division alongside runners-up West Brom.
Patrick Bamford finished as the top-scorer with 16 goals, with Man City loanee Jack Harrison (6 goals, 8 assists), Pablo Hernandez (9 goals, 9 assists), Mateusz Klich (6 goals, 5 assists) and Helder Costa (4 goals, 4 assists) also chipping in with significant goal contributions.
With that in mind, however, the West Yorkshire giants will definitely need to add more depth and quality to their creative lines to ensure that they are up for the challenge in the Premier League.
Harrison has handed a boost by returning to Leeds for a third consecutive loan spell but it’s worth noting that the winger remains unproven in the English top-flight. Hernandez is someone who has got a lot of experience under his belt but at 35, the Spaniard is nearing the twilight of his career.
Why Stanciu could be a good addition
Suffice to say, Leeds United need to bolster their attacking firepower ahead of the upcoming PL campaign in September and a potential deal for Nicolae Stanciu would be worth considering for Bielsa.
The 27-year-old is yet to feature in any of the top-five leagues in Europe but his proven track record of goals and assists in Romania, Belgium, and the Czech Republic, as well as in European competitions, suggest that the playmaker is ready to make the step up to a more competitive division.
Essentially a central attacking midfielder by trade, Stanciu boasts the versatility to play out wide on either side of the attack and also in a deeper role in the middle of the park.
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Verdict
Bielsa is right up there with the very best in the world when it comes to getting the best out of his players and Stanciu could be a really good player in the Premier League next season if the Argentine gaffer manages to work his magic on the Romanian.
He still has his best years ahead of him at 27, so that makes him an even more exciting proposition for the Elland Road outfit.
