English Premier League

Leeds: Orta tables Cifuentes bid

Leeds United have made a move in their bid to bring Jose Cifuentes to Elland Road this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Ecuadorean media outlet BOLA VIP, who claim that, following a number of reports linking Victor Orta with a move for the Los Angeles FC midfielder in recent weeks, the Spaniard has now tabled a £5m offer for the 23-year-old Ecuador international.

However, the report goes on to state that the Whites are not the only European club interested in the services of Cifuentes, with both Brighton & Hove Albion and Leicester City also hoping to bring the midfielder to the Premier League this summer, while Italian side SS Napoli are also thought to be keen on a move for the LAFC dynamo in the coming weeks.

Marsch needs him

While it is true that Orta has already added a number of central midfielders to Jesse Marsch’s first-team squad this summer, considering the fact that both Tyler Adams and Marc Roca are primarily defensively-minded players, the 48-year-old would still appear to be in need of a midfielder in the number eight role.

This is a role it is clear that Cifuentes would be able to fulfil with ease, as the 23-year-old has more than proven for LAFC so far this season that he can link up play in transition, chip in with goals and also put in the hard yards defensively.

Indeed, over his 22 MLS fixtures in 2021, the £5.85m-rated talent has scored six goals, registered five assists and created six big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 2.0 shots, making 1.1 key passes and completing 1.8 dribbles per game.

The £6.1k-per-week midfielder has also made an average of 2.0 tackles, 0.5 interceptions, 29 passes, 1.5 long balls and won 5.0 duels per fixture, with these returns seeing the eight-cap international average an eye-catching SofaScore match rating of 7.10 – ranking him as his club’s joint third-best performer in the league.

Furthermore, South American football expert Tim Vickery is clearly a big fan of the Ecuadorean, stating on talkSPORT of Cifuentes’ influence in Ecuador’s impressive U20 World Cup run:

“He was the beating heart of that side and I think he’s a terrific midfielder. He’s strong, he’s got quality, he’s got a good engine – he’s one of the best all-round midfielders, potentially, that I’ve seen come out of South America in a while.

“Get him, sign him on! Ecuadorians are only just beginning to forge careers in Europe. Sometimes the adaptation for them isn’t easy… but this fellow Cifuentes strikes the ball well, moves across the field, strong in the tackle, strong on the ball, I like him a lot.”

As such, considering the profile of the LAFC midfielder is very much one that Marsch is lacking in his Leeds squad – particularly if Mateusz Klich goes on to leave the club this summer – it would appear that the signing of the 23-year-old would be a very welcome one indeed for the 48-year-old manager.

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