Why Cenk Tosun could be a real coup for Leeds United in January

According to The Athletic, Leeds United could plot a loan swoop for out-of-favour Everton striker Cenk Tosun in January to make him spearhead their surge for promotion if they fail to land any of their preferred targets.

The 28-year-old, who completed a £27million move to Everton from Besiktas back in January 2018, currently finds himself behind the likes of Richarlison, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Moise Kean in the pecking order after failing to live up to expectations at Goodison Park.

Tosun has started only twice in the Premier League for the Toffees this term, with his only goal coming in the 1-1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur last month.

Image result for cenk tosun" — Cenk Tosun has emerged as a shock loan target for Leeds United ahead of the January window (Getty Images)

The 42-cap Turkish international has scored just 10 times in 49 appearances for Everton across all competitions so far and his lacklustre form has seen him get linked with a move back to his homeland ahead of the January window. (Aksam h/t Liverpool Echo)

Tosun found himself gathering dust under former manager Marco Silva, but with the club hierarchy pulling the trigger on the Portuguese following a lacklustre run of results, the Turk will be keen to impress Duncan Ferguson, who has been appointed as the new caretaker manager with immediate effect.

However, the 28-year-old could be offered an escape route in January by Championship promotion hopefuls, Leeds United, who are mulling over a loan move for Tosun if they fail to land some of the other targets on their shortlist.

The Whites are at the risk of losing the services of loanee Eddie Nketiah, who has been lined up for a recall by his parent club Arsenal when the transfer window reopens in January (h/t Daily Mail).

Despite scoring 5 times in 13 appearances for the West Yorkshire giants in all competitions, the 20-year-old is yet to start a single game for his loan club in the Championship.

All of Nketiah’s 11 appearances in the Championship so far have come from the bench, with Marcelo Bielsa clearly preferring Patrick Bamford as the undisputed first-choice striker to lead the attack.

Now, with Bamford showing signs of returning to form in recent weeks following a 10-game goal drought in the Championship, Nketiah’s chances of playing regularly at Elland Road look bleak and Arsenal might be forced to bring him back to North London midway through the campaign in order to decide the right course of action for his development.

Leeds have been linked with a loan move for Liverpool academy prospect Rhian Brewster ahead of the mid-season trading period, but with Swansea City, Crystal Palace and Bristol City also in the race to sign the teenager (Daily Mail h/t Sun), it is pretty evident that the Whites are keeping their options open.

Verdict

To put things into perspective, Leeds United’s interest in Cenk Tosun certainly makes sense in footballing terms for a number of reasons and the Turk could well be a big statement signing for the Whites in January.

The 28-year-old might have struggled to deliver the goods in the Premier League but his wealth of experience at the highest level coupled with his previous exploits in the Turkish top-flight means that he could possibly come through the door at Elland Road as an immediate game-changer.

Looking at things from the player’s perspective, it would be a real surprise if he opts to take a step down to join Leeds on loan in the Championship.

However, if he is genuinely interested in making a name for himself in English football, a move to Elland Road could just be the escape route that he needs to get his career back on track following a dismal stint at Everton.

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All in all, there are plenty of talking points involved in this move but it is one that could be a real coup for Leeds United in their surge for promotion to the Premier League.