Leeds United and West Ham United to battle it out for Sevilla ace Bono
According to Fichajes, Premier League sides Leeds United, and West Ham United are both interested in securing the services of Sevilla star Yassine Bounou also known as Bono.
The 31-year-old joined Los Nervionenses from Girona, originally on loan in 2019. He impressed in his debut season at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium and saw the deal made permanent the following year.
Bono has since made 118 appearances for the La Liga side across all competitions, keeping 53 clean sheets in the process. A late bloomer, he certainly fits in well at Sevilla and has proven to be a reliable last line of defence.
This has caught the attention of both Leeds and West Ham. The former already has the highly promising Ilan Meslier, who could make the number-one position his own for years to come. At 22, the Frenchman has the best years of his career ahead of him, and is already attracting attention from elsewhere.
The Yorkshire club lacks a reliable deputy to the youngster, and Bono certainly fits the bill. An excellent shot-stopper, the 31-year-old has cat-like reflexes and is particularly effective at close range. His inability to handle long-range pops at goal with conviction remains a weak point, but the defence can make life easy for him by shutting down shooting lanes.
While Bono is unlikely to be a long-term solution, he has a few years left at the top that could be put to good use. A chance to play in the Premier League does not come often, and the Moroccan would be wise to consider his options.
Alphonse Areola hasn’t really impressed, while Lukasz Fabianski is not getting any younger. David Moyes could strengthen his backline by bringing in Bono. The 31-year-old’s experience coupled with organisational abilities makes him a fine addition to the Hammers’ backline.
Bono’s contract with Sevilla runs until 2024, meaning the Spanish side will hold some leeway in negotiations. One of the best goalkeepers to don the club’s shirt in recent times, Sevilla have every reason to not lose him on the cheap.
A lot could depend on whether the player and Sevilla can reach a consensus regarding his future. At 31, time is running out for the goalkeeper to try out his luck in the English top flight. Whether it is something that will come to pass remains to be seen.
