Journalist shares surprise at what’s happened to Manuel Benson at Burnley as Leeds United eye Deadline-Day signing
We’re delighted to welcome Sky Sports News journalist Dan Bardell for his exclusive reaction to Leeds United transfer news on Deadline Day…
Dan Bardell believes Manuel Benson would be a good signing for Leeds United if they can agree a deal with Burnley before the transfer deadline on Thursday (1 February).
Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri first reported the Whites’ interest in the 26-year-old on 18 January, where he revealed that the club expected Wilfried Gnonto to join West Ham and were lining up the Clarets winger as his replacement.
The Daily Telegraph journalist Mike McGrath tweeted on Wednesday (31 January) that the Belgian could leave Turf Moor on deadline day after he was omitted from the Premier League side’s squad for their 3-1 defeat against Manchester City on Wednesday.
Bardell has been surprised to see Benson hasn’t been more involved for the Lancashire club this season, having made just four top-flight appearances despite registering 14 goals in helping his side to promotion during the last campaign.
Speaking exclusively to MOT Leeds News, Bardell said: “It would be another attacking option. It just freshens things up, not that Leeds’ attack is stale in any way.
“It puts the players who have been playing on their toes a little bit and provides competition for places. The Championship is all about these marginal gains.
“I’ve been surprised that Benson hasn’t played very much in the Premier League this season because the times I did see him for Burnley last season in the Championship, I thought he was brilliant.
“I thought he was probably a bottom-half Premier League player, but he hasn’t really been given opportunities. If Leeds can get him in, I think that’s a good signing because he’s proven at the Championship level that he can give an advantage to someone.
“He can win games and score important goals, so that would be a decent pick-up for Leeds in my opinion.”
In other Leeds United news, Fabrizio Romano has revealed that the Whites are set to make an offer for a mystery defender.
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