---
title: "Leeds: Whites backed to sign John Buckley"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/john-buckley-leeds-transfer-links-kevin-phillips/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Henry Jackson"
section: "Leeds United"
published: "2022-01-17T18:05:32Z"
modified: "2022-01-17T18:05:32Z"
---

# Leeds: Whites backed to sign John Buckley

**Leeds United would be wise to complete the signing of Blackburn Rovers midfielder John Buckley, according to former England striker Kevin Phillips.**

### The Lowdown: Buckley shining at Blackburn

The 22-year-old has been an impressive performer at Ewood Park this season, playing a key role in Tony Mowbray’s side mounting a genuine Premier League promotion push.

Buckley has [scored once and registered six assists](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/371501/Show/John-Buckley) in 24 Championship starts in 2021/22, and the midfielder has been [linked](https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/blackburn-john-buckley-leeds-united-22755275) with a move to Leeds (as per Sky Sports’ [Transfer Centre](https://www.skysports.com/transfer-centre), 14 January, 11:24am) as Marcelo Bielsa continues to look at possible January signings.

\[freshpress-quiz id=“383507″\]

### The Latest: Leeds urged to seal move for Buckley

Phillips believes that Buckley would be an excellent addition for Leeds, telling [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/phillips-issues-big-buckley-claim-after-skys-leeds-transfer-update/) about the Blackburn gem’s quality despite playing in the Championship. The 48-year-old gushed:

> “Blackburn have been in great form this season and he’s been a big part of that. If you get a good player from a club that is flying in the Championship midway through the season you’ve done well.
>
> “He’s a centre-midfielder which is a position Leeds desperately need to strengthen in. He’s versatile as well which is a bonus, so it’s a big signing if they can do it.
>
> “At the end of the day though, it’s always a gamble signing a player from the Championship. It’s a jump to the Premier League. It could be a signing that pays off though.
>
> “From Blackburn’s point of view, there is no way \[Tony\] Mowbray will let any of those players go on the cheap.”

[Latest Leeds United news!](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-news-31/)

### The Verdict: Is he good enough?

There is a potential snobbery surrounding bringing in players from the Championship, but much like fellow Leeds target [Lewis O’Brien](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-transfer-rumours/lewis-obrien-backed-january-move-leeds/) at Huddersfield, Buckley looks capable of making the step up to the Premier League, given the quality he has shown this season.

The 22-year-old has been [described](https://www.lancs.live/sport/football/football-news/blackburn-rovers-buckley-praise-maturity-21589896) as ‘wonderful’ by his manager Mowbray, who also claimed that the player possesses ‘snake hips’, which suggests that Buckley would add guile in the middle of the park at Elland Road.

A tenacious presence in the middle of the park, he has won [2.5 tackles](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/371501/Show/John-Buckley) per game this season ([second only to Stuart Dallas](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/19/Show/England-Leeds) among Leeds’ squad), while just [four Whites players](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/19/Show/England-Leeds) can better his match average of [1.2 key passes](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/371501/Show/John-Buckley). These figures show that the Blackburn ace has plenty of string to his midfield bow.

With Kalvin Phillips [out injured](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/dec/31/leeds-injury-woes-deepen-with-kalvin-phillips-and-liam-cooper-out-till-march-bielsa)and Adam Forshaw also picking up a minor [hamstring issue](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/im-fighting-adam-forshaws-update-on-hamstring-injury-after-leeds-uniteds-win-at-west-ham-3530415), Buckley could be someone who helps fill the void this month, preferably with another midfield signing on top of that.

***In other news, a journalist has talked up a potential Leeds reunion with one player. Find out who it is [here](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-transfer-rumours/ronaldo-vieira-leeds-transfer-news-pete-orourke/).***