Leeds United are looking to strengthen their squad in the summer and have been linked with quite a few players lately. The latest player that manager Marcelo Bielsa is interested in is Wolves winger Ivan Cavaleiro, according to Express and Star. The Premier League side have reportedly told Cavaleiro to find a new club before the start of the next season.
Leeds aren’t the only side interested in the winger as Huddersfield Town and Fulham, who were relegated to the Championship at the end of the 2018-19 season are also interested in signing the Portuguese attacker. Cavaleiro moved to Wolves from AS Monaco in 2016 for a fee of around £7 million, and went on to have a stellar second season with the club, helping the side to promotion.
But, opportunities in the Premier League were limited for Cavaleiro, much like his compatriot and teammate Helder Costa, as manager Nuno Espírito Santo played a formation that did not require wingers like Cavaleiro and Costa. Costa, incidentally, was also linked with a move to Leeds a few days ago.
In the 2018-19 season, Cavaleiro made just 9 starts in his 29 appearances for the club, scoring five times and providing one assist. The 25-year-old has made over 100 appearances for the English club in the three seasons he has been there. His contract with Wolves expires in two years.
A shrewd option for Bielsa?
It’s quite evident with the players that Leeds have been linked with that Bielsa wants a winger who can do a lot of running and press the opposition when not in possession. Cavaleiro is a right-footed winger who can play on the right or left side and has a range of skills that would fit perfectly in the Leeds setup. The Portuguese star is a quick and skilful winger who can dribble past defences, while also having the technical ability and vision to play forward passes and through balls.
The former Benfica player could be the focal point around which Leeds’ attack is based and he could be an able replacement for Jack Harrison, who was on loan at the club from Manchester City last year and predominantly played on the left side.
