MOT View: Reported Leeds target who outshines Phillips in several key stats could be top signing
Leeds United are reportedly plotting an ambitious swoop for Benfica midfielder Florentino Luis.
According to ESPN, the Whites are keeping tabs on the 20-year-old ahead of a potential summer swoop, but they could face competition from the European heavyweights Manchester United, AC Milan and Bayer Leverkusen.
The report suggests current employers would be open to letting him leave on a loan deal with an option to buy written into it, but even then, given the calibre of the clubs who are said to be chasing him, any deal for him would presumably be difficult to wrap up.
But would he be worth the effort?
His stats are certainly impressive.
So far this season he has averaged a pass completion rate of 92.1%, as per Wyscout, as well as a dribble success rate of 62.5%, 5.51 interceptions, and a duel win rate of 59%.
As a point of reference, all of those figures are higher than Kalvin Phillips’ equivalent numbers this term.
And that obviously translates well into game scenarios.
The map above, for example, tracks the 12 interceptions that Luis made over the course of his appearance against SC Braga earlier this season.
At no point has Phillips made that amount of interceptions in a single game this season, which in itself speaks volumes.
Perhaps just as important, however, is the distribution of those interventions.
Luis clearly gets about the field well, and is not afraid to put his foot in whether he is in his own box or the attacking third.
His pass map from that same game tells a similar story too.
Luis completed 51 out of 52 attempted passes against Braga, a success rate of 98%.
Just a quick glance at it shows how much ground he covers, as well as how easily he dictates a midfield area with his distribution.
And it’s no fluke either.
This map shows him completing 68 out of 71 passes against Rio Ave, a success rate of 96%.
There’s a good range to this passing too – long and short, sideways and forward.
All the signs are that Luis has what it takes to be a top, top midfield general.
In fact, you could probably argue that he’s already well on his way to becoming one.
If we could land him this summer, it would be a fantastic piece of business.
In other Leeds United news, YEP journalist: Injury to one Whites player would cause sleepless nights for fans.