Leeds United’s pursuit of a new striker has led them to a former Premier League player in Felipe Caicedo, who currently plays for Italian side Lazio. The former Manchester City striker is a target for Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa, as per Imperio.
The Whites have around £10 million surplus in the transfer budget following the sale of Jack Clarke to Premier League side Tottenham, and they could spend a portion of the money they receive from that deal to sign Caicedo.
The Ecuadorian striker scored 9 times and provided 6 assists in the 2018-19 season for Lazio – the club he joined in 2017 from Espanyol for €2.5 million. The 30-year-old previously played for Manchester City back in 2008, but lasted just two seasons with the English club, scoring 7 times in 34 appearances.
Caicedo has just one year left on his current contract at the Italian club and could be set for a move away from the club ahead of the 2019-20 season.
Will it be a wise move?
Leeds United are once again looking poised to challenge for a place in the Premier League and will expect to be in and around the top of the Championship in Marcelo Bielsa’s second year in charge of the club.
The Whites have already secured the services of Jack Harrison and Ben White, as both young players have joined the club on loan, while Jack Clarke has also returned to Leeds on loan after signing for Spurs in the current transfer window.
Leeds have two first-team strikers in Kemar Roofe and Patrick Bamford, who contributed 25 goals together last season, while young Welsh attacking midfielder/striker Tyler Roberts is another option for Bielsa up front. Leeds currently do not need another striker but should target players in other positions like central midfield and central defence, especially if the likes of Pontus Jansson and Kalvin Phillips leave the club ahead of the 2019-20 season, though it is unlikely Bielsa will lose them this summer.
Caicedo hasn’t been a prolific scorer throughout his career, and he could, at best, be an alternative option to bring on from the bench. The Ecuadorian is a good finisher and comes alive in and around the penalty area, but doesn’t offer much else in terms of creativity.
Bielsa should rather look to buy a young player with potential, while also strengthening other areas of the pitch than bid for Caicedo.
