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Leeds must sign Jordon Ibe instead of Ibai Gomez

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OPINION

If Marcelo Bielsa wants to sign a new right winger in the January transfer window then the Leeds United boss must cancel his reported plans to sign Alaves’ Ibai Gomez and go after Bournemouth fringe player Jordon Ibe instead.

Ibe, 22, has struggled for game-time at the Vitality Stadium this season, with just three appearances off the bench in the Premier League despite impressing in the Carabao Cup, scoring twice in three outings to help the Cherries reach the quarter-finals.

The former Liverpool attacker is someone who is proven in the Championship having had loan spells at Derby and Birmingham while he was on the books at Anfield, impressing in the Midlands with his electric pace, neat finishing and ability to cut inside from either flank.

Ibe is primarily a right-sided winger and judging by reports coming out of Spain, that is a position that Bielsa is looking to strengthen in the near future.

Diario AS has reported that Leeds hope to enter negotiations over signing Alaves winger Gomez in January with the former Athletic Bilbao attacker approaching the end of his contract.

However Bielsa needs to go after someone who is proven in England’s second-tier instead and given the fact that Ibe is still young, has a lot of potential and could be available from Bournemouth due to his lack of game-time, it is an absolute no-brainer.

It could be that Leeds would have to sign Ibe on loan first with the view to making the deal permanent if they achieve promotion to the Premier League.

The jet-heeled winger will be in the last year of his £38,000-a-week [Spotrac] contract by the time this season ends so the Cherries could be more willing to do business then.

He did cost Eddie Howe £15million just over two years ago, but the south coast club would surely rather cut their losses now than risk losing him on a free transfer in 2020.

Elland Road would erupt if Bielsa was to manage to lure a player of Ibe’s quality, reputation and potential to West Yorkshire in January and he simply has to make this move happen, or at least try.

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