The January transfer window in the Premier League has become very important in the last few years. It allows the top clubs to add to their already large squads, whilst the smaller, struggling sides look for a signing that might somehow revitalise their season, and change their form around. These transfers then directly impact how bettors select the odds they want to bet on in the Premier League, as a few new players can improve things drastically on the pitch, making them a much more attractive betting option.
One such side who currently have poor betting odds are Leeds United. Following some bad form, they were 16/1 outsiders to win their postponed match against Liverpool, which given they held Jurgen Klopp’s men to a 1-1 draw last year, it proves how bad their odds have fallen in just a few months.
Fans will be looking at their betting apps, searching for sports and odds to truly consider if Leeds might now actually be relegated. It seems a long, long time since they were 9th last season, defying all the pre-season odds and finishing above many more established Premier League sides. With Marcelo Bielsa the 2nd favourite Premier League manager to be sacked, with odds at 7/2 on some sportsbooks, Leeds will need to bring in some new players this January to help change their bad form,
Reports are coming out that the club might be interested in re-signing Ronaldo Vieira, a central midfielder who played for the club between 2016 and 2018. Let’s take a look at his first stint at the club, then try to see how he would fit into the side now, if the deal is to be made.
Progressed through the youth ranks into the first team
Vieira had moved to Yorkshire as a youngster, playing in the Huddersfield Junior Football League, whilst trying to secure a deal to sign for an academy with a local side. He had trials at both Manchester City and Hull City, but failed to make an impression. Finally, he got a trial with Leeds, and impressed enough that he was signed into their youth academy.
It didn’t take long before Vieira had caught the attention of the then Head Coach Steve Evans, who signed the youngster from Guinea-Bissau on a 2 year deal, and made his debut on the 7th of May 2016, coming on for Stuart Dallas in a 1-1 draw with Preston North End.
Everything looked positive for the young central midfielder at that time, as he was given another new 4-year deal in 2017. At that time, with Leeds one of the bookmakers favourites to clinch promotion back to the Premier League, it looked like Vieira would play a key role in getting his team back to the promised land. However, in the intervening years the Head Coach changed several times, and Vieira soon found himself out of favour with the new boss Marcelo Bielsa. Despite trying to impress his new manager, Vieira was then sold to the Italian side Sampdoria in the summer of 2018.
Injuries to central players have hampered Leeds this season
Before a ball was kicked in August, Leeds had handicap odds of +15000 to win the Premier League, putting them as the 10th favourite. Of course, it was always very unlikely they would challenge for the title, and even the top 4, but given how strongly they ended the 2020/21 season, fans felt confident in placing bets on them finishing in the top 10 once again this season.
To say it hasn’t quite panned out like that would be putting it mildly. After 18 games, Leeds have only won 3 times, drawing 7 and losing on 8 occasions, which puts them in 16th place. They have struggled against the bigger sides, losing 7-0 to Manchester City, 5-1 to Manchester United, and 3-0 to Liverpool, when last season they were able to pick up results against these clubs.
They have really missed the likes of Kalvin Phillips, Liam Cooper and Diego Llorente, all who play in the centre of the pitch. As Vieira is versatile, playing in both central midfield and as a centre back, his signing could kill two birds with one stone.
Would the Vieira signing prevent relegation?
As things stand, Leeds are now 9/4 to be relegated, with only Norwich, Newcastle, Watford and Burnley having shorter odds than them. This will please some Leeds fans, as of course only 3 sides can go down, meaning that if the betting odds stay as they are, they should be safe.
The signing of Vieira, for reportedly less than what they sold him for only 3 years ago, makes a lot of sense on paper, as not only is he a rising star, but it will create competition for places once everyone is back fit. Some Leeds players knew they would be starting each week, so with a new signing coming it, everyone will likely redouble their efforts. But Vieira has his own injury issues and it’s not guaranteed he would be fit for the majority of the run-in.
The betting odds aren’t yet clear on whether Vieira will sign, so hopefully more news will emerge in the coming weeks.
