Hull City have confirmed that Abel Hernandez is set to leave the KCOM Stadium after his current contract expires at the end of this month. Despite the attempts from the Championship outfit to make Hernandez sign a fresh deal, they have not been able to taste success in their pursuit and apparently, Leeds United have been linked with the striker as per latest reports by Daily Mail.
The Whites had a stuttering season in the Championship during the 2017-18 season. The Yorkshire based side finished at the 13th spot in the league standings with 60 points, 15 points adrift of the play-off spots. They struggled under the tutelage of Thomas Christiansen as well as Paul Heckingbottom, with the latter getting sacked on 1st June after merely four months in charge at the Elland Road.
Quite a few changes are needed at Leeds United to enhance their productivity next season. BBC has reported that the process of negotiations is going on to appoint ex-Argentina boss, Marcelo Bielsa, as the next coach. Besides, Leeds United do need to sharpen up their attacking arsenal and their interest to sign Hernandez makes a lot of sense.
Abel Hernandez – Fact file
Having started his youth career with Penarol and Central Espanol, Hernandez kicked off his senior career with the latter. After a couple of seasons, he went back to Penarol before moving to Palermo. He impressing during his time with the Italian outfit and eventually, he joined Hull City in 2014 for a club-record fee of £10million.
He has moulded himself as a clinical goal-getter in English football. Hernandez has the physicality and predatory instincts that have made him a potent championship forward.
The Uruguay international missed a major chunk of the previous season with a ruptured Achilles tendon but despite that, he played a crucial role to save Hull City from getting relegated to League One. In 10 Championship appearances last season, he scored 8 goals one assist.
After 28 goals in 49 Championship appearances, the 27-year-old will be available for free and apart from the Peacocks, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Aston Villa have also been linked with him. However, Leeds Live has reported that Leeds United are leading the race to sign him and are close to agreeing personal terms with him.
If the deal actually materializes, there is no denying that Leeds United’s attack will get a fearsome line next season.
Statistics Credits: WhoScored