The highly-rated 21-year-old has impressed in La Liga this season while on loan at Osasuna, and the Whites are already in talks with his agency about a possible summer move to Elland Road. [Sport, April 14]
With Abde’s chances of breaking into Barcelona’s first team limited, and the club needing to raise up to £200 million to pay off debts, his sale is being examined.
According to Sport [18 May], the transaction is no longer small, and Leeds United are willing to spend £34.7 million on the brand-new attacking signing.
Although Abde appears to be a very exciting signing on paper, he is simply not what Leeds require right now.
For starters, the team has yet to confirm their Premier League future for next season, which would likely be a prerequisite for any deal, but this isn’t an area of the pitch that requires significant investment.
After a busy couple of years in the transfer market, Leeds United have already brought in a slew of young attackers, the majority of whom have failed to live up to expectations.
On the wings, Sam Allardyce presently has Willy Gnonto, Jack Harrison, Luis Sinisterra, Crysencio Summerville, and Georginio Rutter at his disposal, so no further investment is required, especially at this high price.
Instead, the Whites must spend in more midfield depth, defensive reinforcements to help shore up the ship at the back, and a proven striker who can hit the ground running at Elland Road.
Although Abde is a brilliant teenager, Leeds should avoid this costly-looking transfer.
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