Former Arsenal star Francis Coquelin could be set for a return to England with Championship side Leeds United. That is according to the latest report from The Sun, who claim that the Yorkshire club are considering offering the midfielder a short-term deal at Elland Road. Coquelin joined Arsenal as a youngster in 2008 from Stade Laval U17, and came through the ranks at the club where he spent 10 years. He earned himself a reputation for his work rate, aggressive tackling, and ability to break up opposition play. The Frenchman was pivotal in Arsenal’s midfield during the 2014-2015 season, when he formed an effective partnership with Santi Cazorla. He made 160 appearances for the first team and provided 3 assists for Arsenal, and won two FA Cups with the Gunners. In 2018, he transferred to La Liga, joining Valencia, where he continued to demonstrate his defensive prowess, helping the team win the Copa del Rey in 2019. He joined Villarreal in 2020 and spent 4 years there, scoring 6 goals and assisting 3 in 107 games. Leeds have lost midfield duo Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev to long-term knee injuries. The club is also without Manor Solomon and Max Wober, with the latter undergoing a knee surgery which will keep him out until December. Daniel Farke previously admitted that while he is not a fan of October signings, he might be forced into entering the free-agent market to find an immediate solution. Coquelin is reportedly open to a move, but he is not the only free agent the club is considering. Farke has several players in his sight as a short-term solution to the current injury crisis at the club, including former West Ham man Cheikhou Kouyate, who is currently training with them during the international break. The Sun further reports that Farke has invited Coquelin to work with his squad at Thorp Arch along with other potential free agents.
Leeds United interesovan za povratak bivše zvijezde Arsenala Francisa Coquelina
Po posljednjem izvještaju iz The Sun-a, Championship klub Leeds United razmatra ponuditi srednjem veznjaku kratkoročni ugovor na Elland Roadu. Coquelin se pridružio Arsenalu kao mladić 2008. godine iz Stade Laval U17, i prošao je kroz redove kluba gdje je proveo 10 godina. Zaradio je reputaciju zbog svoje radne etike, agresivnog igranja i sposobnosti da prekine napad protivnika. Francuz je bio ključan u sredini terena Arsenala tokom sezone 2014-2015, kada je formirao efikasno partnerstvo sa Santijem Cazorlom. Odigrao je 160 utakmica za prvi tim i upisao 3 asistencije za Arsenal, te osvojio dva FA kupa sa Topnicima. 2018. godine prešao je u La Ligu, pridruživši se Valenciji, gdje je nastavio pokazivati svoje odbrambene sposobnosti, pomažući timu da osvoji Kup kralja 2019. godine. Pridružio se Villarrealu 2020. godine i proveo tamo 4 godine, postigavsi 6 golova i upisavši 3 asistencije na 107 utakmica. Leeds je izgubio srednji vezni dvojac Ethana Ampadua i Ilia Grueva zbog dugotrajnih povreda koljena. Također, klub je bez Manora Solomona i Maxa Wobera, s potonjim koji je prošao operaciju koljena zbog koje će biti van terena do decembra. Daniel Farke je ranije priznao da iako nije obožavalac oktobarskih transfera, možda će biti primoran da se uključi na tržište slobodnih agenata kako bi pronašao trenutno rješenje. Coquelin je navodno otvoren za prelazak, ali nije jedini slobodni agent koje klub razmatra. Farke ima nekoliko igrača na oku kao kratkoročno rješenje za trenutnu krizu povreda u klubu, uključujući bivšeg igrača West Hama Cheikhou Kouyatea, koji trenutno trenira s njima tokom međunarodne pauze. The Sun dalje izvještava da je Farke pozvao Coquelina da radi sa svojim timom u Thorp Archu zajedno s drugim potencijalnim slobodnim agentima.
