Sory Kaba could provide the goals that take Leeds United back to the Premier League
Leeds United are one of four Championship clubs chasing the signature of Midtjylland striker Sory Kaba this summer, according to the Daily Mirror.
The newspaper reported it it’s print edition [1 August, pg 39] that Leeds are competing against Cardiff City, West Brom and Watford for the Guinean forward’s signature, but Leeds shouldn’t be letting this target get away from them.
Kaba spent the second half of last season on loan in South Wales and impressed in an otherwise fairly poor Cardiff City side, scoring eight goals in 17 Championship appearances for the Bluebirds.
If he had been in England’s second tier for the whole campaign, he likely would’ve come close to scoring 20 goals, that ever-important figure that every striker attempts to reach, and every team hopes they have in their squad.
Now Leeds potentially already have there 20 goal a season striker in Patrick Bamford, after all the last time he was in the Championship he managed 16 goals and even managed a more impressive 17 the following season in the Premier League. However, he has been riddled with injury issues on top of struggling with his own personal form.
What Kaba offers is something completely different in profile to Bamford and a quick look at the underlying numbers behind his spell in South Wales show exactly why so many clubs have an interest in securing his services.
Behind the 28-year-old’s impressive goal return is an even more impressive, expected goals record, as shown on his FBREf scouting report. Kaba sits in the top 4% of all Championship forwards in terms of non-penalty xG per 90 minutes, an average of 0.49 or an expected goal every other game.
This is while taking a relatively average 2.44 shots per game, meaning that he very rarely takes shots that he is unlikely to score with, instead waiting for the best opportunity. This is partly down to the service he received at Cardiff, where he would only get a below average 4.41 touches in the opposition box per 90.
The other obvious advantage of having the 6ft 2 frame of Kaba leading your line is that he is excellent in the air, sitting in the 86th percentile of all forwards with an average of 5.66 aerials won per match, a better average than £8m Coventry City signing Ellis Simms managed for Sunderland and Everton last campaign.
What Kaba doesn’t give you is much work in the build-up falling in the bottom 15% of forwards for attempted passes, pass completion rate and progressive carries, so his game is very much focused on putting the ball in the net.
Just what Leeds need
While his lack of impact outside the box could be viewed as a negative, it could also be exactly what Leeds United need this summer as they have previously been far too wasteful in front of goal, and it has cost them.
Bamford’s miss against Everton last season is a prime example of this, that could have been the difference between Leeds remaining in the Premier League or going down and they can’t afford to have another season of near misses.
With the creative talent that remains at Elland Road in the likes of Wilfried Gnonto, Kaba would be given the chances to score and judging by his last spell in England he will likely put them away.
Whether on a loan or a permanent deal, Leeds should definitely be considering making a move for the Guinean forward. The goals that he would score for our money would be the difference between getting promoted or another season in the Championship.
In other Leeds United news, Tyler Adams has been linked with the vacant midfield role at Chelsea