Leeds United are setting up a bid to land midfielder Jonathan Rowe from Championship rivals Norwich City, as reported by TEAMtalk. However, the Whites are likely to face a clash with French side Olympique Marseille for the 21-year-old’s signature this summer.
TEAMtalk’s reporter, Fraser Gillan, initially reported that the Ligue 1 side are still ‘working’ to sign Rowe, while Leeds are currently eyeing a rival bid. Marseille have already had an opening bid of an estimated £10.3 million rejected by the Canaries during the transfer window. Reports suggest that Norwich value Rowe more in the region on £15 million, leaving Les Olympiens short of the valuation.
Daniel Farke seemingly wants to add further quality to his already talented attacking frontline to compliment his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation. Leeds were held to a 3-3 draw at home against Portsmouth on Saturday, with one goal scorer, Willy Gnonto starting on the left flank. Dan James also made his first start of the 2024/25 Championship season on the right wing.
But, beyond Gnonto and James, the Whites have no out and out options in the wide attacking areas. As a result, the Yorkshire club seem keen to bring in Rowe, who scored 12 league goals in 32 appearances last season, as recorded by Transfermakrt.
In addition, Rowe appears to be inching towards the exit door at Carrow Road. The 21-year-old was absent from the Canaries’ matchday squad in their opening match defeat at Oxford United. Post-match, Norwich boss Johannes Hoff Thorup explained to Norwich Evening News that Rowe did not want to play due to the speculation around his future with the Norfolk side.
Leeds may need to act quickly to land Rowe ahead of Marseille. Following the sales of last season’s Championship Player of the Year, Crysencio Summerville and starlet Archie Gray for over £50 combined, the Whites have money to spend on a player like Rowe.
Farke’s men need first-team ready reinforcements on the left and right wing and Rowe can provide a genuine challenge to James and Gnonto in these areas. Its a move that appears to make sense for the Yorkshire club, but they will also need to offer the 21-year-old plenty of game time if they want to attract him over Marseille.
How does Rowe’s playing style fit into Leeds’ current formation?
According to the information provided, Jonathan Rowe’s playing style and attributes would fit well into Leeds United’s preferred 4-2-3-1 formation under manager Daniel Farke.
Rowe is described as a talented 21-year-old attacking midfielder who scored 12 goals in 32 Championship appearances last season for Norwich City. This goal-scoring prowess and creative ability from midfield would complement Leeds’ existing options in the attacking third.
In Leeds’ 4-2-3-1 setup, Rowe could slot in as one of the three attacking midfielders behind the central striker. His dribbling, creativity and eye for goal could make him an ideal candidate to occupy one of the wide attacking midfield roles, providing a threat from the flanks.
This would allow Rowe to showcase his strengths, including his ability to cut inside from the wing, link up with the striker, and arrive late in the box to provide an additional goal-scoring threat. His dynamism and work rate would also suit the high-energy, pressing style that Farke favors.
Additionally, with limited options beyond Willy Gnonto and Dan James in the wide attacking areas for Leeds, Rowe’s arrival would add valuable depth and competition for places. His potential arrival could push James and Gnonto to raise their own performance levels, creating a healthy competition for starting spots.
Overall, Rowe’s skillset, goal-scoring ability and versatility across the attacking midfield positions appear to be a strong fit for Leeds’ current 4-2-3-1 system and the team’s needs in the final third of the pitch. His potential addition could provide a significant boost to Leeds’ attacking options and help them push for promotion back to the Premier League.
Leave a Reply