Scout Report – Caleb Ekuban
Leeds United have completed their sixth summer signing by bringing in Chievo’s Ghanaian-Italian striker Caleb Ekuban on a four-year deal.
The forward provides competition for last season’s runaway top scorer Chris Wood and has aspirations to play in the English Premier League, with Leeds being seen as a good stepping stone for that, either by virtue of a future transfer or by the Elland Road side eventually gaining that hitherto elusive promotion.
Having played in Albania and Italy’s lower divisions there is little information readily available about Ekuban, but here’s what we know about the striker as of now:
History
Born in Verona, Italy in 1994, Ekuban signed for local side Chievo and played in their academy from 2010-2012. Loan spells at Sudtirol, Lumezzane, Renate and last season at Partizani Tirana brought about 120 frist team league appearances and 29 goals for the young forward.
Despite showing promise and displaying a deal of improvement (last season he scored 17 in 34), a first team appearance never materialised at Chievo Verona and the club showed willingness to part ways with him. He has now joined Leeds United and will look to impress during their pre-season schedule.
Style Of Play
Caleb Ekuban prefers playing as a centre-forward and is known as an out-and-out goal scorer. He has good movement and as such, is also capable of playing just behind the striker, or occasionally out wide on the right hand side.
He has enough pace about him and uses it to burst into space when the opportunity arises – something that in the Championship, could be utilised from the bench against tiring defenders, late on in the games.
His Future
It’s hard to say how far he can go in the game. Although he has progressed almost continuously, he has only been playing at low levels and despite his pace and eye for goal, he is far from guaranteed to prove good enough yet at this level.
Given the low fee that Leeds have paid, they see the slight risk in signing him as a worthwhile one, and it may be that he takes the Championship by surprise this season.
A goal every other game is impressive enough on paper, though doing it in Albania and then doing it in England are worlds apart and so his future needs to include plenty of hard work and willingness to learn if he is to succeed at this obviously elevated level.
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