Monaco preparing for the departure of Jean-Kévin Augustin to Leeds United
25 Jan 2020 04:45 pm, by YorkshireSquare
Leeds United’s priority for this transfer window is clear, they need to bolster their attacking options with the aim of improving their conversion rate, one of the worst in the Championship this season. After looking closer to home Leeds United now seem to be switching their focus overseas. With the price tags and wages flying around in the Premiership these days it has a struggle to part players such as Che Adams and Andre Gray from their clubs despite them not starting regularly but it looks like they may have better luck with Jean-Kévin Augustin. Augustin is currently contracted to Red Bull Leipzig though is currently on loan at French Ligue 1 club AS Monaco. Paris based daily sports newspaper L'Équipe wrote on Friday that Monaco were preparing for the departure of Jean-Kévin Augustin with his probable destination over ‘la Manche’ to Leeds United. The article reads…
While the desires of Islam Slimani to leave have been known for several weeks (See our January 12th Edition) and the Algerian is offered to many clubs across the Channel, another case should concern the Principality, Jean-Kévin Augustin’s. For several hours now, the 22-year-old Espoirs [France Under-21s] international has had to answer a question: Are we saying no to Marcelo Bielsa? The Monaco striker, on loan from Leipzig, answered in the negative. Arriving last summer, the former Parisien is expected to join the English club, currently second in the Championship, in the coming hours.
The Argentinian coach, determined to launch an ambitious recruitment campaign, had made Augustin one of his offensive priorities. In the spirit of the former Marseille technician, the qualities of speed and power of "JKA" must feed his offensive animation. The Monegasque, who has played 13 games since the start of the season (1 goal, 1 assist), had asked for some time to reflect. Time also to explore other possibilities. Saint-Etienne, Rennes and Crystal Palace were also positioned to welcome it this winter. Augustine has ruled in favour of Leeds in recent hours. The prospect of being led by Bielsa, playing in a historic English football club and having playing time in a Championship that he perceives as suited to his qualities made the difference. Few elements have filtered through on the nature of the engagement. But his club in Leipzig, where he was engaged until 2022, would have matched this new loan with a purchase option.
Augustin has played at the highest levels in Europe, staring his career at Paris Saint-Germain before a €13 million transfer to Red Bull Leipzig in 2017 saw him playing his trade in the Bundesliga where he scored 12 goals in 42 appearances. With tough competition up front at Leipzig from German international Timo Werner plus Yussuf Poulsen and Patrik Schick he went out on loan this summer to French club AS Monaco. The loan spell has not gone as he had wished, being shut out from the starting eleven by the brilliant performances of Wissam Ben Yedder. It now seems Augustin is keen on a move to Leeds with Marcelo Bielsa being one of the main reasons for the move.
Even with the player keen on a switch there is still a way to go to secure a move. There is potential competition from Crystal Palace, Saint-Etienne and Rennes. The current loan deal with AS Monaco will also have to be concluded before any transfer can take place but there appears to be a good relationship with the agent and a desire to get the deal done. Augustin wasn't named in Monaco's squad for Saturdays game against Strasbourg, the first time in 16 Ligue 1 matchdays he hadn’t been, which will add further fire to the speculation that a deal is close to being done.
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