---
title: "Leeds: Marcelo Bielsa wanted two midfielders in January"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/bielsa-wanted-two-midfielders-january-transfers-leeds/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Henry Jackson"
section: "Leeds United"
published: "2022-02-15T11:05:59Z"
modified: "2022-02-15T11:48:27Z"
---

# Leeds: Marcelo Bielsa wanted two midfielders in January

**Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa wanted to bring in two new midfielders in the January transfer window, according to the reliable Pete O’Rourke.**

### The Lowdown: Midfield struggles this season

The Whites have had a season to forget overall, with disappointing performances and a [spate of injuries](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/leeds-united/ausfallzeiten/verein/399) clearly hampering their progress in the Premier League.

Kalvin Phillips’ [lengthy absence](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/kalvin-phillips/verletzungen/spieler/351749) has been a huge blow in the middle of the park, with Adam Forshaw also missing a chunk of action after a [long-term layoff](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/adam-forshaw/verletzungen/spieler/121257).

Leeds had the opportunity to make signings last month but they ended up bringing in no new faces for the senior side, perhaps coming as a surprise given their struggles, particularly in the middle of the park.

\[freshpress-quiz id=“383507″\]

### The Latest: Journalist reveals Bielsa demand

Speaking to [GiveMeSport](https://www.givemesport.com/87972523-bielsa-wanted-two-leeds-signings-amid-issue-with-kalvin-phillips), O’Rourke claimed that Bielsa actually wanted to sign a couple of midfielders in January in order to alleviate the issue.

He stated: “Bielsa wanted two midfielders, possibly one for cover for Kalvin Phillips and also a No.8, which obviously they weren’t able to do.”

They made [two bids for Brenden Aaronson](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/leeds-united-make-increased-bid-for-rb-salzburg-midfielder-brenden-aaronson-3536574), so he was the No.8 target, but there were no concrete reports to identify the Phillips cover.

[Latest Leeds United news!](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-news-34/)

### The Verdict: Phillips’ return will be vital

Admittedly, Leeds’ finances may ultimately not have allowed additions to be made in January, but the decision [not to strengthen the squad](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/leeds-united/transfers/verein/399/plus/?saison_id=2021&pos=&detailpos=&w_s=w) last month could look foolish at the end of the season should they end up back in the Championship.

A huge amount of pressure now lies on the shoulders of Phillips, who was [such an influential player](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/19/Archive/England-Leeds) last season, to fill the void in midfield and produce performances to match his current standing as England’s [Player of the Year](https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2021/Sep/01/20210109-kalvin-phillips-named-england-mens-player-of-the-year-2021).

With Forshaw, Mateusz Klich and (once back from injury) Stuart Dallas to call upon – Robin Koch and Pascal Struijk [can play in midfield](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/leeds-united/kadernachposition/verein/399) too if required – Leeds may have just enough to get through the rest of the campaign, but additions should be needed in summer.

RB Salzburg’s Aaronson is reportedly a [primary transfer target](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-transfer-rumours/leeds-whites-still-plotting-brenden-aaronson-deal/) and he could be a perfect signing to add some end product from the middle, having [scored 11 goals and registered 13 assists](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/brenden-aaronson/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/393323/verein/409) in 53 appearances for the Austrian giants.

***In other news, an injury expert has discussed a key Leeds injury update. Read more [here](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-news/liam-cooper-injury-return-date-leeds/).***