Leeds Target Nicolás González: Player Profile
We take a look at who the latest attacker to be linked with the Whites is. Background and some stats on a talented young striker.
Another day, another bit of Leeds United transfer news. The Guardian reported on Tuesday that Argentine forward Nicolás González is being targeted by the club, with talks of a potential £15m move from VfB Stuttgart. González was a key figure in the German side’s promotion to the Bundesliga this year, scoring 14 goals in 27 games and providing 3 assists. Used as a centre forward, the Argentine international can also play in behind a no.9 or out wide as he often did last season. He has a high work rate, pressing from the front and trying to cut passing lanes for opposing defenders.
A versatile goalscorer who can harass defenders sounds like a Marcelo Bielsa dream. In his first year with Stuttgart, he struggled in the Bundesliga scoring only twice. At only 22, González had a much better season in 2. Bundesliga last season as mentioned above, thriving with the opportunity to be more attacking in Germany’s second tier. This earned him a surprise call up to the Argentina squad, making his debut in a win over Ecuador. He appeared off the bench against Brazil and Uruguay in November also, a sign of his potential that Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni was confident enough in the young man to give him a run out against such strong sides.
His potential role at Leeds United would most likely be as direct competition to Patrick Bamford, but Bielsa could be open to using him as a no.10 or a winger. At 5ft 11ins, González has the build to impose himself as a centre forward but also the pace and agility to work in tight spaces and be a playmaker, linking up with the rest of the attack. In the 2019–20 season González averaged 1.5 key passes (the final pass leading to a shot on goal) and 2.1 successful dribbles per game, showing that his skill set is not limited to that of a traditional centre forward. Link up play is vital in Bielsa’s side and all the signs point to the technically gifted Argentine being able to fit in well.
Director of Football Victor Orta will undoubtedly have assessed González with Bielsa and his team of analysts before formalising any interest in the player. Should The Guardian’s report be accurate, Leeds will be in the running for him with Brighton and this is a transfer that could get very interesting in the coming days as Leeds build towards their first game back in the Premier League on the weekend of 12 September.
It was confirmed on 17 August by Stuttgart’s official Twitter profile that González had suffered a slight thigh tear. No timeline for recovery was provided but other similar thigh injuries take around 2-3 weeks to come back from.
By Chris McMenamy
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