Stach repeat: Leeds identify £11m “goal-scoring menace” as top target
The work that Leeds United did during the summer transfer window is starting to look like a masterstroke, now that they are seven points clear of the relegation zone at the time of writing.
Numerous summer signings have adapted well to the Premier League and shown that they can play vital roles in the team’s survival, including experienced English forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has scored eight goals.
Anton Stach is one star who has transitioned well from the Bundesliga to the Premier League, as he has the technical and physical attributes to thrive in England.
The German central midfielder has scored three goals and provided two assists in 17 appearances in the top-flight, per Sofascore, which includes a stunning free-kick against Wolves.
Stach has also won 52% of his duels and 68% of his aerial battles in the Premier League, per Sofascore, which shows that he can handle the physicality of the division.
Leeds make Bundesliga star a priority target
The West Yorkshire outfit are now reportedly looking to repeat the blinder they played with the 6 foot 4 midfielder, as they eye up another Bundesliga talent.
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According to TEAMtalk, Leeds United have identified Union Berlin central defender Danilho Doekhi as a ‘prime target’ for the January transfer window.
The report claims that the Whites are interested in a deal to sign the Dutchman, who has six months left to run on his contract and could be available for a fee of around £11m.
It adds that the club are in the market to bring in another centre-back because of the change to a 3-5-2 system in recent weeks, coupled with the ankle ligament injury sustained by Joe Rodon against Sunderland.
Daniel Farke reportedly wanted to sign Doekhi for Norwich City in the summer of 2021, but was unsuccessful, and he is still keen on a move for the defender almost five years later.
Why Doekhi can be a Stach repeat for Leeds
As aforementioned, Stach has been able to successfully transition from the Bundesliga to the Premier League because he has physical and technical qualities, and the same can be true for the Union Berlin defender.
Like the current Leeds star, the £11m-rated centre-back has the quality to carry a decent goal threat on the pitch, despite not being an attacker. The 27-year-old ace has scored five goals in all competitions so far this season, per Sofascore.
Doekhi, who was dubbed a “goal-scoring menace” by Bundesliga reporter Archie Rhind-Tutt, has scored an eye-catching 14 goals for Union Berlin since the start of the 2022/23 campaign, which is a stunning return for a centre-back.
The Dutch giant, who scored twice in a 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich this season, could arrive at Elland Road to provide a huge threat from set-pieces to chip in with goals, as Stach has in his first six months at the club.
Doekhi does not just have quality in the opposition’s penalty area, though, as his main job is to protect his own goal, and it is a job that he has done superbly this season.
|
25/26 |
Doekhi (Bundesliga) |
Rodon (PL) |
|---|---|---|
|
Appearances |
15 |
18 |
|
Goals |
4 |
2 |
|
Tackles + interceptions per game |
3.3 |
1.9 |
|
Clearances per game |
5.3 |
5.7 |
|
Ground duel success rate |
67% |
69% |
|
Aerial duel success rate |
71% |
55% |
|
Duels won per game |
7.5 |
4.6 |
|
Stats via Sofascore |
||
As you can see in the table above, the Union Berlin defender has posted impressive defensive numbers in comparison to Rodon, who he may replace in the back three because of the Welshman’s injury.
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Doekhi, as evidenced by those statistics, is an incredibly dominant defender who does not allow attackers too many opportunities to win physical duels against him, on the ground or in the air.
This suggests that he has the physical qualities that would help him to deal well with the intensity of the Premier League and the strength of the strikers in England, because he is a no-nonsense centre-back who is up for the rough and tumble.
This is why the Dutch star could be a terrific addition to the squad in the winter window to add further depth to the defence, now that Farke is running with three-at-the-back, whilst also adding another goal threat to the team.
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Hopefully, Doekhi can then go on to prove himself to be as good a signing as Stach has been, as another physical presence and goalscoring talent from the Bundesliga.
