OPINION
Leeds United must strike now if they want to sign Roma forward Ezequiel Ponce after it was reported that MLS side Portland Timbers have opened talks to sign the 21-year-old.
US journalist Paul Tenorio, of The Athletic, reported via his personal Twitter account on Saturday that Portland have made Ponce one of their transfer targets and discussions are ongoing between them and the player.
Portland Timbers are working on signing a young DP forward and have narrowed in on two options, per a source. The first is playing in Mexico; the other is Ezequiel Ponce, an Argentine on loan from Roma at AEK Athens. Discussions ongoing with both. #RCTID
— Paul Tenorio (@PaulTenorio) January 19, 2019
However the ex-Newell’s Old Boys ace is also reported to have been on the radar of Leeds, with ClubCall claiming in November that the Championship club had sent a scout to keep watch over him.
Ponce is currently on loan at AEK Athens and it is understood that the Whites scouted him in the 0-0 draw against Panathinaikos.
Rangers, Udinese, Fiorentina and Borussia Dortmund also reportedly sent scouts to have a look at the loaned-out Roma striker, who has been in lethal form in Greece this season.
Ponce has scored 10 goals in 15 league appearances for AEK Athens this season and his form has clearly attracted the attention from clubs not just in Europe, but also in North America.
Leeds need to ensure that they do not lose out on signing the Argentine.
Marcelo Bielsa has already signed Ponce once his his career when he snapped him on loan from Roma during his time in charge of Lille in France.
After just 13 games in charge, Bielsa was sacked by Lille and he never really got a good chance to really utilise the young centre-forward.
The Leeds boss must surely want to sign Ponce again after sending a scout to keep close tabs on him, so to let Portland Timbers start negotiations is something that the Yorkshire club must respond to.
Ponce’s loan stay at AEK Athens expires at the end of the season and Leeds may be in need of a new centre-forward that has Premier League quality by then, so opening negotiations now could see the brakes pulled on a potential move to the USA.
Bielsa and director of football Victor Orta must surely see that the 21-year-old forward will have the ability to shine for them whether in the top-flight or not.