Goals haven’t been an issue for Daniel Farke’s Leeds United as they continue their march to the Premier League.
In fact, since their most recent Championship setback away to Blackburn Rovers in late November, the league leaders have scored 40 goals in just 15 games. An average of 2.6 goals per game.
Joel Piroe continued his impressive form against Sheffield United with a ‘fabulous’ long-range strike late on. Dan James is also in double figures now while Manor Solomon and Brenden Aaronson aren’t far behind. Pascal Struijk has five himself from centre-half, two of those coming as Leeds United grabbed a victory from the jaws of defeat against Sunderland.
However, to claim that Leeds’ newfound ruthlessness alleviates the need for a new centre-forward is to miss the point somewhat.
Yes, goals are simple to come by right now. However, Solomon, the club’s fourth-highest goalscorer, faces an unclear future on loan from Tottenham Hotspur. Piroe has no Premier League experience, and among Daniel Farke’s other centre-forwards, Patrick Bamford has not played in two months, while Mateo Joseph has only three goals.
Nice striker Evann Guessand demonstrates why Leeds United likes him.
With the summer just a few months away and promotion on the horizon, it’s no surprise that attention is shifting to number nine. Leeds apparently like Sunderland’s Wilson Isidor and Norwich City’s Josh Sargent.
Wilson Isidor scored a ‘amazing’ solo goal at Elland Road last week, and Daniel Farke hailed Sargent as a ‘great striker’ back in January.
In comparison, Evann Guessand is less well-known in England. However, that could alter sooner rather than later. If reports are to be believed, Leeds will join Aston Villa and Tottenham in seeking the Nice talisman.
Guessand, reportedly valued at £20 million, is eight goals behind PSG’s Ousmane Dembele in the Golden Boot race in France. While he may not be the most prolific striker, Guessand’s game is more than just putting the ball in the back of the net.
The French press recently praised his ‘astonishing ability’ to leave opposing defenders for dead with a burst of speed and feet faster than Fred Astaire in fast-forward. Guessand also has a selfless streak, which might make him an ideal foil for James, Willy Gnonto, and Solomon, assuming the latter remains at Elland Road.
The France-born Ivory Coast international enjoys drifting wide and dropping deep – a player with his speed, agility, and ball-carrying ability would fit right in as a winger – while creating space for his teammates to charge into.
Guessand’s Ligue 1 masterclass demonstrates why Leeds likes him.
Guessand now has nine assists on the season after helping Nice defeat Montpellier 2-0 last time out. Guessand, who has ten goals, can be described as an equal parts goalscorer and creator.
Guessand took possession of Nice’s opener just inside the opposition half. He cantered forward and then had the vision and the technique to execute a perfectly-weighted through-ball in behind for rampaging right-back Jonathan Clauss to finish.
It’s the kind of assistance James, in particular, appreciates.
Nice extended their lead at the hour mark, and Guessand was once again the trigger. This time, he sprung up wide on the right and ran past a Montpellier full-back before unleashing a cross that caused havoc in the area. Hachim Boudaoui would eventually tap home.
“Evann Guessand, as always, made the differences,” writes Le Figaro in their post-match analysis.
“In a Nice team that was not always inspired, Evann Guessand was a valuable detonator to light the spark twice,” L’Equipe adds, citing another explosive performance by the Rocketman of the Riviera.
Guessand, on the other hand, has either scored or assisted on 16 goals in his 23 games in Ligue 1.
“I think Evann is well advanced and more consistent in his performances, but he still has so much room for improvement,” adds Nice coach Franck Haise. “My worry is to get him to be more demanding, to push himself even further, since we don’t know what his boundaries are.
“I’m pushing and we’re all pushing him to go even further because he’s a player who has enormous potential.”
