MOT View: Promising signs show Bielsa could surely get a great tune out of reported Leeds target
Leeds United have kept up a fairly relentless pace in the transfer market this summer, and with the window due to shut next week, they still might not be finished.
According to talkSPORT, the Whites are keen on the Norwich City playmaker, and will make their move once they rubber stamp a deal for Bayern Munich midfielder Michael Cuisance.
But what sort of player can Leeds expect to sign should they wrap up a deal for the 22-year-old?
To be fair to Cantwell, he impressed during his debut season in the top flight with the Canaries last term.
The wide man hit six goals and two assists in a promising campaign, and it’s not unreasonable to believe that he has a lot more potential waiting to be unlocked.
That’s not to say that he isn’t an exciting talent now, however.
Last season, Cantwell averaged a higher total action success rate than Jack Harrison, as well as having a higher shot accuracy, and a passing accuracy that was superior by 10.5%, as per Wyscout.
A quick look at his heat map from last term shows he operates well in both the attacking third and his own half, while also hinting at his tendency to drift infield.
That industrious nature and willingness to put in the graft across the pitch is surely something that will please Marcelo Bielsa immensely.
Similarly, the Argentine likes his players to be able to knock a ball about with ranger and confidence.
Above is a pass map focusing exclusively on the balls that Cantwell played into the final third during Norwich’s 3-0 defeat to Southampton last season.
His success rate was 100%, and as we can see, the midfielder is able to go long or short while constantly looking to break the lines and move his team forward.
When it comes down to it, however, Cantwell is also capable of being selfish in front of goal when he needs to be too.
Take the example above.
Granted, there are few viable options ahead of him, but to take on a shot from that distance against a side like Manchester United requires an awful lot of self-belief.
This isn’t a hit and hope effort though – Cantwell strikes the ball with power and precision, and the deceptive pace he applies to his shot is enough to catch the United keeper napping.
It’s superb play, and it really iterates the obvious talent that the wide man possesses.
If this is the kind of output he’s producing now, just imagine the tune that Bielsa could get out of him.
We think this would be a great signing.
In other Leeds United news, Leeds in talks for winger involved in 23 goals in 19/20, £4.5m deal has knock-on effect – report