Adam Underwood’s priority this summer has been sorting out Leeds United’s defence ahead of a Premier League campaign and with Gabriel Gudmundsson set to join, it appears he has done that.
With Junior Firpo leaving on a free transfer and Max Wober hot-footing it to Werder Bremen, Leeds needed reinforcements. In come Jaka Bijol, Sebastiaan Bornauw and Gudmundsson to bolster Leeds.
If Sam Byram leaves, it is easy to imagine another full-back is signed. But for now, the Leeds defence has been improved and the numbers are good. Now, surely, more focus will be on improving the attack.
Farke has long wanted a no.10, while the expectation is that a starting striker will be signed to go above Lukas Nmecha and Joel Piroe. A new winger is also required, with Manor Solomon returning to Spurs.
Well, one player on Leeds’ radar is the subject of growing interest and now, Carlos Corberan is looking to derail his old side’s plans to sign one of the most-underrated wingers in the Bundesliga this summer.
Carlos Corberan ahead of Valencia's game against Real Madrid.
Photo by Diego Souto/Getty Images
Corberan looks to elbow Leeds aside for Gladbach sensation
If you look at Franck Honorat’s clubs, it is easy to think he’s just a mediocre player to have played in both Germany and France. So far, he has played for Nice, Brest, St. Etienne, Clermont, Sochaux and Gladbach.
But a deeper look at the numbers shows he is now deserving of a move to the Premier League. Last term, injury limited Honorat to just 21 matches – but he still managed five goals and nine assists off the right.
Club Spell League(s) Games Goals Assists Minutes per G+A
Nice 2011-2017 Ligue 1 20 0 0 447.0
Sochaux 2016-2017 (loan) Ligue 2 30 1 3 377.0
Clermont 2017-2019 (loans) Ligue 2 77 10 18 189.1
St. Etienne 2018-2020 Ligue 1 19 0 5 275.8
Brest 2020-2023 Ligue 1 109 25 17 196.5
Gladbach 2023-present Bundesliga 56 10 22 132.4
Last month, Leeds were linked with a move for Honorat – who Foot Mercato described as Gladbach’s ‘best player’. Now, Foot Mercato deliver a new update, claiming Corberan’s Valencia also want to sign Honorat.
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Franck Honorat would be a top signing, but it means a change
With Solomon departing, it leaves a hole on the left flank. But Honorat has predominantly played on the right with Gladbach, where he has enjoyed his best form. A change then, is required among the wingers.
Franck Honorat takes on Wolfsburg for Gladbach.
Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images
If Honorat joins, he would have to adapt to playing on the left or Dan James or Willy Gnonto would have to be willing to switch over from the right. Gnonto often plays from the left for his country in recent years.
Honorat is best from the right and if Leeds are to replace Solomon with Honorat, then they will have to adapt either James or Gnonto into left-sided players. But Corberan could throw a spanner in the works.