Sunday Mirror

Fast Leeds nab £10m Dutch Bolt

- BY STEVE BATES

LEEDS hope to unveil FC Utrecht striker Gyrano Kerk this week with the clubs close to agreeing a £10million deal.

Kerk is the fastest player in the Eredivisie, and been labelled the Usain Bolt of Dutch football.

After high-level talks this weekend, it seems Leeds have beaten off Verona and Cagliari with neither Serie A side willing to pay above £9m for the 24-year-old, who is under contract until 2023.

Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa has been impressed with scouting reports, and watched Kerk before the Covid-19 pandemic struck earlier this year.

Kerk, who can play as a right winger as well as more central, scored 11 goals last season and weighed in with 12 assists.

He was overlooked as a kid by Ajax, but when current Ajax boss Erik ten Hag was FC Utrecht boss, he snapped up Kerk and gave him his debut.

Ten Hag said: “Gyrano’s style suits English football. He has pace, is strong and is a dangerous player once he gets a a bit of space in the counter attack.”

 ??  ?? LIGHTNING BOLT Kerk
LIGHTNING BOLT Kerk

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