The Championship side, Leeds United, have seen a star rise amongst them this season. Chris Wood has risen out of the mediocrity and almost single-handedly propelled the team to a position from Leeds had harboured hopes of promotion for a period of the season.
Reports suggest that the Kiwi international has attracted a lot of attention from Premier League clubs with Southampton being one of the front-runners to fetch his signature in the summer. The 25-year old’s current contract ties him to Leeds till 2019.
But having had a sensational season for Leeds and being the top scorer of Championship with 27 goals, one could only hope that he is going to get better next season. Leeds have attached a £15m price tag to the player.
Chris Wood – Player Stats
- The Kiwi International has made 44 appearances for the championship club which saw him net an astonishing 27 goals and 4 assists for the club. He has been the top scorer of the championship this season.
- Wood has also contributed 36 key passes for his team, which goes to show his unselfishness and creativity in generating chances for his team.
- He also has had an amazing 44 shots on target which goes to show that the 25-year-old doesn’t shy away when in front of the goal.
- The only area that needs development is passing where he has a success percentage of only 62.(Source via WhoScored)
Leaving out his passing techniques in the final third, the Leeds forward does present a respectable Resume for the Premier League clubs who would want to add firepower to their team.
What’ll he bring to the Club?
Southampton have faced trouble in finding consistency from their forwards in front of the goal. The fact that midfielder Nathan Redmond has been their top scorer with 7 goals depict few of the many problems that Claude Puel would have to look into this summer. But it would be safe to say that Chris Wood would be a good addition to the club. With high awareness and finishing ability, he would provide Southampton with the much-needed spark and charisma that they have been looking for the entire season.
Worth the Money?
I think it is safe to say that the lad is well worth the moolah. If he even manages to provide Southampton with 10-12 goals, less than half of what he had produced with Leeds, still it would see them spring into battle for top 8 next season. With many Premier League clubs circling around the hot prospect, Puel would have to act swift and fast if he wants to acquire his signature. The Southampton fans would surely be delighted to see the Leeds man on their team next season.