Left back and midfield the summer priorities for Leeds United

Left back and midfield the summer priorities for Leeds United

12 Feb 2021 08:22 am, by YorkshireSquare

Good Morning. It's Friday 12th February, and her are the latest headlines from Elland Road…

Left back and defensive midfield the summer priorities

Phil Hay of The Athletic has reported that left back and defensive midfield are priorities in the transfer market come summer. The club are understood to be interested in Romain Perraud, of French side Brest. The 23 year old left back played for France up to U20s level and his performance data shows characteristics which would meet Bielsa requirements, a creative edge and a high number of dribbles and shots for a player at his position, combined with a very active role in pressing defensively. Brest were not willing to entertain offers for Perraud in the winter but Leeds will consider tabling a formal offer for him once the season ends.

The Athletic also understands Leeds are weighing up options to improve the depth in their midfield, including a plan to sign cover for Kalvin Phillips. Bielsa has called upon Pascal Struijk as understudy in defensive midfield since the latter stages of last season but the Dutchman’s best have come at centre back. Adam Forshaw’s long battle to recover from a groin injury has left Leeds without a more natural replacement for Phillips, who is one of the most crucial cogs in Bielsa’s line-up. Youngster Jack Jenkins could be a potential replacement for Phillips but despite appearances on the bench he has yet to make his senior debut for Leeds.

Are these the areas you would prioritise in the summer transfer window? Should youngsters like Jack Jenkins be given the chance to show what they can do?

Can Leeds resist the approaches of the ‘top six’?

Since the first fleeting glimpses of Raphinha it was clear he was a classy footballer, and his recent performances have only confirmed Leeds United have a quality player on their hands. Every time he picks up the ball you feel like something could happen! But his consistently good performances have caught the eye of other clubs too with defending Premier League champions Liverpool rumoured to have set their eyes on the Brazillian winger. If Jurgen Klopp did come calling would it be a move Raphinha could turn down, after all he looks set for the top of the game.

The odds have dramatically shortened on Jose Mourinho to be the next Premier League manager to get the sack with Marcelo Bielsa rumoured to be the man Daniel Levy wants to replace the Portuguese coach. With Mourinho’s pragmatic style failing to impress the fans and Spurs currently out of the European places it’s clear to see why the Spurs owner would want to make a change. Bielsa has won as many games (10) as Mourinho this season with a far less expensively assembled squad.

Can Leeds ward off the advances of the ‘top six’ clubs? Leeds are newcomers to the Premier League but look to have secured their place in the division for next season and have enormous potential as a club. Are we in a strong enough on and off the field to hold onto our top talent?

Who are Arsenal’s danger men with Tierney and Partley missing?

Arsenal will be without both Kieran Tierney and Thomas Partey for this weekend's Premier League clash with Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium. Tierney has missed his side's last four league matches with a calf strain, and a statement on the London club's official website revealed that the Scotland international would again be absent against the Whites. Partey, meanwhile, was forced off against Aston Villa last weekend with a hamstring problem, and the summer arrival from Atletico Madrid will not be available to take on Marcelo Bielsa's side.

Top scorers Alexandre Lacazette (10) and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (8) are both available for Mikel Arteta as is Gianni Alioski’s best friend Nicolas Pépé. Leeds United cult hero Emile Smith Rowe has been Arsenal’s break out star since Christmas in an otherwise lacklustre Gunners side. Arsenal have lost their last two league games, which has left them in 11th position in the table, one point behind 10th-placed Leeds ahead of this weekend's contest. Who are Arsenals main threats this weekend? David Luiz is available again having served his suspension, is that an advantage for Leeds?

Breakfast Debate

26 Comments

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Irish Ian wrote on 15 Feb 2021 04:22 pm

faaip wrote: ↑Mon Feb 15, 2021 3:15 pm I'd stil love to get Che Adams and Ben White

Che is an interesting one. Southampton have lost 6 in a row and while I cant see them getting relegated I wonder if one way or another they may part company with the manager. It might open a door for a player that we apparently bent over backwards trying to sign last season.

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faaip wrote on 15 Feb 2021 03:15 pm

I'd stil love to get Che Adams and Ben White

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Smudge3920 wrote on 15 Feb 2021 10:49 am

I watched the Roma v Udinese game yesterday...even though Udinese lost 3-0, De paul was head and shoulders above anyone else on the park, when he went off he was absolutely knackered just like Luke left it all on the field... I would really (still) love to get this man in the summer...

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White Riot wrote on 13 Feb 2021 09:14 am

Left back and defensive midfield the summer priorities
Are these the areas you would prioritise in the summer transfer window? Should youngsters like Jack Jenkins be given the chance to show what they can do?

I think the opportunity for the youngsters to impress will come when we've secured our PL status, and that's probably going to be achieved in a few more fixtures. Then MB can blood a few of our youngsters and see what they're made of. I'm a firm believer that if you're good enough you're old enough, so it's up to our young talent to seize the opportunity when it is provided, e.g. Phillips, Meslier and Struijk have taken their chances and established themselves at the top level.

We definitely need a left-back, as it appears MB doesn't fancy Leif Davis. After that I would say a playmaker/number 10 should be the next priority. But if we sign a Rodrigo De Paul, where does that leave Rodrigo? On the bench every week? Can't see him being happy with that.

At CB, barring the bad luck with injuries, we seem to be set with Llorente, Koch, Cooper and Struijk. If Berardi, can come back and prove his fitness and capability at this level in the remaining fixtures, then I would be in favour of giving him a one year extension on his contract, as defensive cover.

We do need some back-up for KP, as he's had, and will have periodic injuries and suspensions. As 64 says, we need competition for every position, but it will be a gradual process to bring in that amount of quality in depth. Forget Forshaw, and Struijk just doesn't seem comfortable at DCM.

If Rodrigo can be an effective back-up to Paddy then we may already be set in that position, as you have to expect that at some stage Paddy will get injured, lose form, be suspended, etc, all of which I hope doesn't happen. Again, MB seems like he doesn't fancy Edmondson, but the likes of Greenwood, Gelhardt, etc, will soon have the chance to impress.

Can Leeds ward off the advances of the ‘top six’ clubs? Leeds are newcomers to the Premier League but look to have secured their place in the division for next season and have enormous potential as a club. Are we in a strong enough on and off the field to hold onto our top talent?

All the indicators are that we are an ambitious club that has firstly looked to secure it's PL status and then progress upwards. We have a first team that has a number of quality players, but lack quality in depth in the squad. But the process of squad improvement began last summer and will continue this summer. If we're seeking to challenge for the top six, and Europe, it's essential that we retain our quality players and add more quality to the squad.

Raphinha's own motivation comes into the equation too. Does he want to further improve under the best coach in the world, with a developing and ambitious side? Or does he want a big payday, instant challenging for rewards, like trophies and medals, and to be competing for a place in a team that already is overloaded with world class players. At Leeds he can be the man, and achieve everything he wants if the club has the talent and ambition that he clearly has. He seemed like he was not amused by the way things ended at Rennes. I honestly believe he's loyal and ambitious enough to stay with us and drive us forward.

Who are Arsenals main threats this weekend? David Luiz is available again having served his suspension, is that an advantage for Leeds?

Arsenal have lots of threats going forward in Saka, Lacazette, Aubameyang and Nketiah, but I still think there is an immense amount of pressure on Arteta, and he is another bad run of form away from being sacked. If, and it's a big if, we can do the basics at the back well, then we should be able to cut Arsenal open and score a few goals and end our London hoodoo

Luiz can either be great or a liability. He's a loose cannon, but will definitely be a big threat to us at set-pieces.

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Cjay wrote on 12 Feb 2021 10:50 pm

I would say a creative cm and another option at dm/cm is vital.

A sort of 10/8 and an 8/4 so 2 players.

Make it easy, few years back Nahitan Nandez's agent said his client wanted to join us, unfortunately we didnt get promoted and he ended up at Cagliari.

Cagliari are in danger of going down and Italian football is struggling financially.

Nandez would be a great 4/8, he can also play as a winger. We need to add more youth, Klich is 30, Dallas is almost 30, Nandez would be an upgrade on both.

And for the more creative 8/10, De Paul, another player who has publicly expressed a desire to join. Given the financial issues in Italy and if Cagliari go down i think we could get both for £50-60mil.

We also definitely need a left back but imo the 2 cm positions are vital and we already have two potential targets who we know want to join.

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