Image Credits: Getty Images
After a sixteenth place finish last season in LaLiga, Las Palmas are turning to a former Manchester United star in an attempt to fight for a higher finish in the league.
Last season saw the club’s return to LaLiga since their relegation to the Spanish second tier back in 2018.
Thankfully the club avoided relegation by seven points, with the Gran Canaria side calling in reinforcements to ensure they stay up this coming season.
Las Palmas recorded only ten wins and ten draws with a total of 18 losses and a negative goal difference of -14 last time out.
Their lack of goals up front is clearly something the club need to fix.
And they’ve turned their attention to that in this summer transfer window with their latest two purchases that include the signing of an ex-United wonderkid.
Las Palmas hopeful with new signing
In order to get something else in attack, Las Palmas have brought in former Manchester United winger Adnan Januzaj.
The Belgian has joined the club on loan from parent club Sevilla after a season of limited game time.
Making only eight appearances in LaLiga, all off of the bench, the winger’s time to Seville has been far below what he achieved during his time on loan at Istanbul Basaksehir.
Playing at the Turkish club for half a season in 2023, Januzaj registered three goals and three assists in 17 games.
MUFC fans will have fond memories of Adnan Januzaj.
Whilst at the club, Januzaj was marked as one to watch, with expectations of the star having an incredible career ahead of him.
He burst onto the seen in David Moyes’ disastrous season as the one high point of his tenure. There was a real belief that he’d go on to become the next Ryan Giggs.
Unfortunately for Januzaj, it didn’t work out like that.
Struggling to stamp his mark under the numerous managers that came after, Januzaj was sold to Real Sociedad for £9.8m in 2017 after failing to fulfil his undoubted potential. Even though the club were happy to sanction the sale, such was the belief in Adnan Januzaj that United inserted a buyback clause in the sale. It was, however, never activated.
Showing glimpses of his talent in Sociedad, there was still evidence that there was a player there. While with Sociedad, Januzaj recorded 23 goals and 21 assists in 168 games showing his versatility on both wings.
However, it was a familiar story as Real released him on a free after struggling to unleash the player the world thought he was.
Las Palmas will be hoping that the winger will find the kind of form he showed at times for both United and Sociedad.
A firing Adnan Janzuaj could help the squad rise LaLiga and the club will hope that the 29-year-old will have a similar impact on their club as another former United player had in LaLiga last season. Mason Greenwood was the best player for Getafe last season and Las Palmas will hope that Januzaj will sprinkle some of that United magic for them also.
Adnan Januzaj joined by Oli McBurnie
Januzaj is not the only player with English Premier League experience joining the club.
Oli McBurnie, former Sheffield United and Swansea City striker, has also signed as a free agent. McBurnie has penned a three-year contract at the club.
In a situation similar to Januzaj, albeit on a lesser scale, McBurnie has always shown that he’s had the talent. But it’s just not worked out for him at the highest level.
Las Palmas are clearly banking on both players to finally fulfil their potential in sunny Tenerife. If Januzaj can supply the balls for McBurnie to finish, it could be an exciting strikeforce for their fans.
Peep @adnanjanuzaj’s first take as our new UD Las Palmas player.
Big up and welcome!#PíoPío #UnityMakesLasPalmas pic.twitter.com/vmcYPk3uea— UDLP English (@UDLP_english) July 26, 2024
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