The latest Leeds United transfer rumour to surface over the past few days is that of Olympique Lyonnais' Maxwel Cornet.
Currently plying his trade in Ligue 1 with the storied French club, Cornet has been known for his versatility in recent seasons.
Previously a left or right-sided winger, Cornet has been somewhat converted into a combative and yet creative left full-back.
Left-back is a position Leeds United are known to be interested in pursuing transfer targets.
The club have made it abundantly clear that in the event Ezgjan Alioski departs this summer, reinforcements and replacements will be drafted in.
Victor Orta's crack team of scouts and analysts have already scoured the various European leagues, eager to find a player who can replace the Macedonian, if he does not take up Leeds United's contract offer which remains on the table.
Curiously, Leeds have targeted very similar full-backs in the run-up to this summer's transfer window.
Javi Galan, Romain Perraud and now Maxwel Cornet are all similar in style.
They are relatively short in stature, but robust, good ball-carriers - Galan being the exception, who is excellent - and have a history of playing further upfield.
Cornet's transition to full-back is the most recent, but nonetheless a promising season at left-back in a top five European league is rather encouraging ahead of a prospective move, despite reservations over his experience in this role.
The obvious observation from these transfer targets and their similar styles is that they mirror Alioski - once a left-winger himself.
Statistically speaking, Cornet appears the closest match to Alioski.
Both represent a goal threat, in terms of scoring themselves and creating for others.
Both are reasonable passers of the ball, but struggle to distribute over longer distances and are inherently progressive, looking to move to the ball forward at each appropriate juncture.
Over the past 12 months, Cornet has averaged 4.14 progressive passes per 90 - as per FBRef.com.
Over the same period, Alioski has averaged 4.17 progressive passes per 90 - admittedly for a team whose first priority is to play forwards.
Cornet's defensive output is decent for a player with little defensive background, suggesting his fundamentals are well-founded.
His pressing would need to improve in order to play in a Bielsa team, although, that is something which can easily be scaled up with a rigorous pre-season.
Comparing the two players from a visual standpoint is like splitting hairs, although Cornet is a tad more confident at making inroads towards the penalty area - most likely due to his experience as a winger with Lyon.
The stats back this up as well. Over the past year, Cornet averages 0.5 carries into the penalty area per 90, whereas Alioski manages just 0.15.
In a more transitional side like Leeds, spaces may be available for Cornet to exploit on the counter-attack.
On the whole, the pair measure up fairly similarly - with one key difference: Cornet is five years Alioski's junior.
Despite his age, Cornet is also much more experienced at the top level of European football, as he closes in on 200 Ligue 1 appearances.
If Victor Orta wants to add a player with Alioski attributes, who gives Bielsa five healthy years to work with before he turns Alioski's age, it may be an investment worth making.
