OPINION
Thomas Christiansen would reduce the impact of Chris Wood’s departure at Leeds by luring Nelson Oliveira to Elland Road from Championship rivals Norwich City.
Leeds finally sold Chris Wood to Premier League side Burnley on Monday which has seen the 25-year-old pen a four-year deal with Sean Dyche’s side, leaving the Whites without their talismanic striker.
The Daily Mail transfer news blog claimed on Tuesday (11.17am) that the Yorkshire giants had a bid of £6million rejected for Middlesbrough target man Rudy Gestede, with Garry Monk reluctant to see him leave.
That should see the Whites look to other targets with proven Championship experience and 26-year-old forward Oliveira boasts just that as he enters his second season in east Anglia with Norwich.
The 16-time Portugal international has shown just how effective he can be in England’s second tier with three goals in four games, finding the back of the net against Fulham, QPR and Aston Villa.
The former Benfica ace has continued his excellent form in yellow and green after scoring 15 goals and laying on another five assists in 32 league and cup appearances for the Canaries last season.
However, Oliveira could look to leave Norwich this summer after falling out with manager Daniel Farke, which was shown in celebration after scoring against Fulham.
Oliveira exquisitely controlled a long ball forward before finding the back of the net, and 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.
The move failed to see the striker earn a place back in the starting line-up despite his goalscoring form this season, as he was only used as a substitute in the 4-2 loss to Aston Villa on Saturday.
Christiansen and Leeds should look to take advantage of his situation at Carrow Road by luring him to Yorkshire, with his proven form in the Championship making him more than an adequate replacement for Wood.
Slightly different to the New Zealand international, Oliveira offers more pace and better skill on the ball than Wood but does not have the physical presence that the former Leicester ace boasted.
Christiansen’s desire to play with the ball on the deck could see Leeds profit with more of a ball-playing striker and Oliveira fits that category.
If the Whites can secure a deal for around £10million, double the amount Norwich paid Benfica for his services, then they would be securing an excellent signing for a player that could even eclipse Wood’s 27 goals last season.