The Leeds United fans in the Transfer Tavern were pleased to see their club make their first move in the transfer market this summer as they completed the signing of Lewis Baker from Chelsea on a season-long loan.
The Breakdown
The majority of Leeds United’s summer has revolved around the appointment of Marcelo Bielsa thus far, but now their managerial situation has been resolved it appears the club are eager to press on with their transfer activity.
Bielsa will need to strengthen various aspects of his side in order to spark a significant improvement in the club’s fortunes next season, and it seems central midfield is an area which the new manager believes is in need of strengthening.
The Argentine has taken his first steps towards bolstering his options in midfield by bringing Lewis Baker to Elland Road on a season long loan, despite the fact he struggled to make his mark in the Championship during a loan spell with Middlesbrough last season.
Chelsea have demonstrated a willingness to allow their young players to leave on loan in the seasons gone by, and the latest deal is yet another indication that they will continue to adopt a similar approach to their academy products this summer.
With that in mind, Bielsa should return to Stamford Bridge this summer in a bid to sign another of Chelsea’s talented young players, namely Mason Mount.
The 19-year-old attacking midfielder has just returned from an eye-catching campaign with Vitesse in Holland where he managed to score 8 goals and provide 9 assists from just 29 appearances in the Eredivisie.
With direct dribbling and creative intent at the forefront of his game, Mount was able to showcase his huge level of potential last season and deservedly claimed the player of the season award in the process.
His success during his first full season at senior level suggests he deserves an opportunity to shine in Chelsea’s first-team next season, but with the likes of Ross Barkley and Ruben Loftus-Cheek also gunning for a chance amid intense competition for a starting berth at the club, it seems incredibly unlikely that he will be handed an opportunity just yet.
However, Mount would have a perfect opportunity to break into the first-team at Leeds if he is willing to work hard for an opportunity, and the early signs suggest he has the mentality to match his impressive technical ability.
The intensity of Dutch football is certainly a level below which Mount would be exposed to in the Championship, but after contributing 17 goals during the course of a single season there’s no doubt Chelsea’s academy product should have the confidence to take the step up in class, and if that proves to be the case then Bielsa would be foolish not to bring him to Elland Road.
Leeds fans – thoughts? Let us know below!
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