The World Cup is renowned as the biggest scouting pool in football and Victor Orta has been in Qatar, potentially looking for his next signing at Leeds United – and Japan’s Ritsu Doan should be high on his January shortlist.
Japan crashed out of the World Cup on Monday. They suffered a penalty-shootout defeat to Croatia in the last 16, missing three of their four penalties. But to get out of a group that included Spain and Germany is a success in itself.
Doan has been pivotal to Japan’s incredible campaign – one that almost saw them reach the quarter-finals. Inches away from their best-ever finish at a FIFA World Cup. Freiburg attacker Doan has scored two goals in his four appearances.
The versatile forward, labelled Japan’s Lionel Messi by the Bundesliga website, joined Freiburg from PSV Eindhoven in the summer for a fee of £7.3million. He has impressed in Germany, having a hand in eight goals during 22 outings.
Japan’s Doan should be high on Leeds shortlist after World Cup campaign
He has taken that form into the World Cup. Energetic, fleet-footed, skillful and versatile – Doan scored in Japan’s two stunning wins over Germany and Spain. That is, despite failing to start either match. Capable of immediate impact.
That is one crucial reason that would make him ideal for Leeds. Would he start for the Whites? Probably not. Not when Luis Sinisterra is flying and given the form of Crysencio Summerville, at the moment. But Doan gives Leeds options.
Able to play on either flank, in the 10 role, or even up front, Doan is the perfect bench player. Leeds have lacked that impact off the bench at times this season but Doan changes that. In terms of the type of Leeds attacker, he is perfect.
The only issue Leeds would have in pursuing a deal to sign Doan, is that he only just joined Freiburg in the summer. Costing £7.3m, his value will have increased in Qatar. TransferMarkt say he has the same agent as Patrick Bamford.
Work rate in abundance, but technically gifted and quick. An end product. He has a bit of everything. Tyler Adams said Orta is in Qatar and if he is compiling a list of players to target in January, well, Doan should be right at the top.
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