Leeds United have reportedly sent scouts to watch Fluminense attacker Jhon Arias in action this season.
That is according to TeamTalk, who report Leeds are one of seven clubs have cast a keen on eye on the situation of Arias ahead of the biggest game of his career this weekend – the Copa Libertadores final.
Rangers, Crystal Palace, Leicester City, Burnley, West Ham and Wolves have all also been keeping track of Arias’ form this season, having scored nine goals and provided 13 assists in 53 appearances.
While Leeds may not necessarily win the race, or even firm up their initial interest in Arias, this sort of scouting mission can only be good news for the club’s long-term future.
South America is a market Leeds have rarely, if at all, tapped into over the last few years, but as proved at several clubs across Europe, it is a landmine for talented players.
Leeds scouting South America is good news
As mentioned, several clubs who have enjoyed success in Europe have used the South American market extensively to find themselves players available for a cut-price.
On a larger scale, both Barcelona and Real Madrid have had arguably the biggest success. The likes of Neymar, Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo and more recently Vitor Roque and Endrick spring to mind.
On a scale more comparable to Leeds, both Brighton and Nottingham Forest have used it repeatedly over the last 18 – 24 months, with the former really now reaping the rewards in particular.
Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo were both bought for cheap before being sold on for huge profits, while Julio Enciso and Facundo Buonanotte look set to be the next off the production line.
Forest, meanwhile, have only just started using it since their promotion to the Premier League, with both Danilo and Murillo looking like shrewd buys in their early days at the City Ground.
If Leeds can look to replicate the type of success these clubs have had using South America in recent years, they could be setting themselves up perfectly for both short and long-term gain.
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