Alfonso Pedraza coming to Leeds United? Looks like it.

It has been a frustrating few weeks at Elland Road, but if rumours are to be believed, help is on the way in the form of a 20-year-old Spanish youth international named Alfonso Pedraza.

Just look at that guy. Has “Spanish Jansson” written all over his face.

According to fellow SBN site Villarreal USA manager Allen Dodson:

(Pedraza is) very technical and strong, can play on the wing or as a striker—at Lugo he often played on the left side of a 4-3-3. Has been a Spanish youth international. He’s scored 6 and assisted on 8 for Lugo in the Segunda, which is impressive. I would guess he’ll play on the left of your 4-2-3-1. Uses his body well in one-on-one challenges, strong in the air, I think he’ll do well. Villarreal fans are all surprised we might lose him for €10m, to be honest.

Segunda has a lot of wily, experienced players, especially defenders, so goals are at a premium and matches are tight. The overall standard is good, but there’s little differentiation among teams, except for a couple of good ones, a couple of non-so-good ones. It’s a hard division to get out of.

My sense is the Championship is more open with more goals, and teams are willing to spend (and lose money) for the pot of gold that’s the EPL if they make it. And the parachute payments to clubs that get relegated mean some teams have a lot more resources than others. The similarity is the top 2 get promoted, the next 4 go into a playoff, and then it’s a crapshoot.

It seems like Pedraza is initially coming on loan to our Championship side, with a provision that, should Leeds earn promotion, the deal becomes permanent... for a rumoured 10 million Euro transfer fee. Allen followed his analysis above by saying that fee will “seem a snip” should Pedraza live up to his potential; he’s really sad to lose the youngster.

At just 20 years of age with seemingly endless upside, this is clearly an investment in the future for Leeds United: he can contribute now in the Championship and grow into a role in the Premier League should we make it to the promised land in May.

Pep Clotet’s Spanish connections may have helped secure the youngster: in the world of internet rumours, this always seems like a hint at truth...

We’ll keep you updated of course, but Alfonso to Leeds seems to really be happening, as Monk finally gets one of the additions he’s wanted. After yesterday at Sutton, help is clearly needed. We’ll see if Pedraza can be that extra push to get us back up. MOT