Former Premier League striker Kevin Phillips believes that Bournemouth forward Joshua King should sign for Leeds United.
King, who was a part of the Manchester United youth academy, has been with the Cherries since 2015, and has played over 160 games for the club.
While speaking to Football Insider, Phillips said that the 28-year-old should join a club where he will be the first-choice striker, which will happen if he joins Leeds United.
Tottenham have also expressed interest in signing King, whose contract expires at the end of next season, but Phillips believes that he won’t be pleased about “playing second-fiddle to Harry Kane” at Spurs.
King has scored 48 goals and assisted 15 times in 163 games for Bournemouth.
A smashing option for the Whites?
One criticism that Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa has faced is his persistence of playing Whites striker Patrick Bamford, who has not scored enough goals for the chances that he has had.
Bamford has scored just 13 times in the Championship in 36 appearances, which is not good enough for a club that are top of the league.
If Leeds do get promoted to the Premier League, their priority in the transfer market should be to sign a first-choice striker.
Joshua King could be a very good signing for the Whites, not only because of his experience of playing in the Premier League, but also his attributes as a striker.
King is a player with pace to burn, and the work-rate that will please Bielsa, and allow him to fit perfectly in the Leeds manager’s system.
The Norwegian is a confident dribbler and can keep hold of the ball, which is very important in Bielsa’s system. His versatility would be an added advantage for Leeds, as the Whites manager has often changed formations depending on the opposition.
King has played as an out-and-out striker, a second striker, as well as a winger on both sides of the pitch. At 28 years of age, he is in his prime years, and his experience could help Leeds survive in the Premier League and stay up, if they do get promoted.