Kevin Phillips, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, believes that Leeds United could make a late move to sign Che Adams from Southampton and thinks he’d be a good addition to Leeds.
Interestingly, the striker is still Leeds United’s number one target this month, according to Phil Hay.
Phillips believes that Adams is good enough to drag the Whites into the Premier League.
What should Che Adams do?
Move to Leeds
Stay at Southampton
However, the former Sunderland striker thinks that Southampton might keep Adams at St Mary’s because the Saints are not safe from relegation yet.
Here’s what he had to say when asked if the 23-year-old may be a late signing:
“Yes, but the only reservation I have with that are Southampton are not out of it, they’re still scrapping relegation and if Danny Ings was to get injured who do they turn to?
“If I was the manager I possibly wouldn’t let him go because securing a position in the Premier League is more important and Che is a player that they’re going to need,
certainly in numbers.
“If Che Adams went to Leeds, that could be the difference between them going up or not going up, so I think he’d be a good addition, yeah.”
Would Adams be a good signing for Leeds?
The 23-year-old, who is valued at £10.8m by Transfermarkt, is supposedly on around £50,000 per week at Southampton, and the Whites could have to pay a significant part of that if they were to take Adams on loan.
Leeds’ top scorer this season is Patrick Bamford with ten, but he has also missed a lot of chances.
Last weekend the 26-year-old saw his penalty saved (1:38) and blazed a one-on-one opportunity over the bar. (1:25)
He needs help, and Adams could be that man.
The former Birmingham City striker scored 22 goals last season and is a big physical presence who could use his speed and frame to cause problems for the opposition.
Marcelo Bielsa said that he wants a striker who has similar qualities to Bamford, and Adams fits that bill.
The only question now is, can the Whites get him off Southampton?
Adams has not scored for the Saints yet, but he has provided two assists, and Ralph Hasenhuttl wants him to stay.
Leeds, though, have not given up on signing Adams, and they will just have to hope that Hasenhuttl changes his mind as the transfer window approaches its conclusion.