Alberth Elis hopes to land ‘dream’ Premier League move amid Leeds United links
Leeds United may have received a much-needed boost in their pursuit to sign Boavista’s Honduran attacker Alberth Elis this summer.
The 26-year-old is likely to leave the Portuguese side having spent the 2021-22 campaign on loan at Ligue 1 club Bordeaux although they ended up getting relegated come season’s end, finishing bottom of France’s top tier.
O Jogo reported on 9 June (page 17 of their print edition) that Bordeaux have an option to buy the Honduras international after his loan spell expires and as both clubs have the same majority shareholders, the finances would not be a problem.
But Leeds’ interest means that they could sell to the Whites instead to bring in more funds and the player himself would be very keen on such a move.
“For now, I have a contract with the team, I have to respect it. I am very grateful to them for the support they gave me, for the way they received me when I arrived in France,” Elis said to El Heraldo.
“My dream has always been to play in the English league and we hope that it can happen, first of all, God is with that opportunity and to be able to take advantage of it.
“In football, rumours are worthless because if at the end of the day the signing of a contract is not confirmed, there is nothing.
“I have had to live this year after year, practically every year they place me every time the season ends and I have learned to take things calmly. If the opportunity comes to me, we will be prepared.”
Better than Bamford
It’s no secret that Jesse Marsch needs a striker and Elis could well be the man he has been looking for ever since he got to Thorp Arch to realise Patrick Bamford spent more time on the treatment table than the pitch.
We could have been much safer than we ended up being in the Premier League last season if we had a striker fit that wasn’t an Under-23 talent trusted into the limelight far too soon.
We have to find another number nine to not only cover but compete with the England international and when he sees the 12 Honduras goals to Elis’ name, you realise he might not be the worst option we could go for.
He hasn’t put up numbers like Erling Haaland or Kylian Mbappe have but then again if he did, we wouldn’t be in the race to sign him at all.
He’s been consistently prolific wherever he has played in his career and that is exactly what we are looking for so let’s get on with the negotiations and bring him to Yorkshire.
In other Leeds United news, Marsch is looking for a new Under-23s head coach and the advert has only just gone live despite months of waiting.