Leeds United have reportedly made their opening move to land Charles De Ketelaere by making an offer to the Club Brugge forward.
According to Calciomercato, Premier League side Leeds United have tabled an opening bid for highly talented Belgian international Charles De Ketelaere.
The 21-year-old is making a name for himself at Club Brugge and is among the rising names in European football. De Ketelaere’s contract with the Belgian giants runs until 2024, but he could be on the move to greener pastures this summer.
De Ketelaere remains grateful for the opportunity he received at Brugge but is keen to move on. There is no shortage of interest in him either with AC Milan, Leicester City and Leeds United all keen. The Whites have now made their opening move and tabled an offer for the 21-year-old. Jesse Marsch’s side staved off relegation by a whisker last season and require a summer revamp.
Brazilian star Raphinha was Leeds’s standout player last season and can be attributed to playing a huge role in them escaping the drop. He is keen to move on this summer, and doing so will leave a huge void in the Yorkshire side’s attack.
De Ketelaere can also play on the right-hand side, but it is in the central attacking role that he thrives in. The attacking midfielder possesses good movement and also has an eye for making passes that split open opposition defences. Leeds struggled to score many goals last season, and signing the Belgian international will be an infusion of inspiration in creativity.
The 21-year-old is also a good dribbler and can score eye-catching goals himself. His ability to act as a lynchpin for the players around him will hand Marsch an advantage in breaking down opposition defences. It could also help the likes of Patrick Bamford and Rodrigo Moreno rediscover their best upfront.
De Ketelaere is a player with a bright future and could be counted among the best creative midfielders in Europe should he develop as expected. Landing him this summer will be nothing short of a coup for Leeds, who are far from being one of Europe’s top destinations at this point.
The biggest threat to their aspirations could come from San Siro. AC Milan have identified De Ketelaere as a priority, and whether they will raise the stakes by making an offer for the 21-year-old Belgian international themselves remains to be seen.
