OPINION
Norwich City’s Nelson Oliveira has been reportedly touted as a possible alternative to Rudy Gestede after Leeds had a bid rejected for the Middlesbrough striker to replace Chris Wood.
Yorkshire Post claimed that 26-year-old striker Oliveira could be brought to Elland Road this summer, with Preston forward Jordan Hugill also considered as a potential target to replace Wood.
It is said that the Yorkshire giants had a bid of £6million rejected for Middlesbrough target man Gestede, with Garry Monk reluctant to see him join the manager’s former side.
Oliveira has begun the 2017-18 season in fine fashion, scoring three goals in four games but could be at loggerheads with manager Daniel Farke after celebrating his goal against Fulham in controversial circumstances.
The 16-time Portugal international celebrated the goal by removing his shirt and pointing to his name in front of the Canaries manager after he did not start the striker.
This Is Futbol weighs up whether signing the former Benfica striker will benefit the Whites and how likely a move is before the end of the transfer window.
Good move for Leeds?
Despite completing the £1.5million signing of Jay-Roy Grot, Leeds still need to add a talismanic striker to their squad that has the ability to match Wood’s exploits of 2016-17.
New Zealand international Wood scored 27 Championship goals last season, firing the Whites to within an inch of the Championship play-offs.
Thomas Christiansen should look to sign a striker with proven Championship experience, something which Oliveira boasts after scoring 23 goals in 60 second-tier appearances, starting only 41 of those matches.
Oliveira is a different striker to Wood in that he offers more pace and better skill with the ball at his feet, and Christiansen’s desire to play with the ball on the deck could make him the perfect signing.
This Is Futbol rating: 9/10.
Likely to happen?
Oliveira has three years remaining on his contract in east Anglia and it is likely to take a huge transfer fee to lure him to Elland Road.
However, if Oliveira does indeed want to leave the club after only being used as a substitute against Aston Villa and not a part of the squad to face Charlton on Tuesday, then he could force a move away.
Leeds have money to spend after selling Wood, as well as securing deals for Liam Bridcutt and Souleymane Doukara and should be able to afford a move to sign Norwich’s number nine.
The major stumbling block is convincing Norwich to allow him to leave, with the Canaries likely to want to keep their star striker as they look to gain promotion back to the Premier League at the second time of asking.
This Is Futbol rating: 4/10.