In this instalment of our TT Roundup, Football Transfer Tavern have gathered three of the biggest stories involving Leeds United over the past week and have provided our thoughts on the reports published.
Bielsa wants Che Adams
The Yorkshire Evening Post have reported that Leeds are chasing Southampton striker Che Adams after Eddie Nketiah returned to his parent club Arsenal. The report says that the Whites remain hopeful of bringing him to Elland Road despite Saints manager Ralph Hasenhuttl insisting he’s going nowhere this month.
However, his manager did say the forward is “not so happy” (quotes Leeds Live) with his game time having started just eight Premier League games (via WhoScored) since his £15.3m move from Birmingham in the summer. He scored 22 goals for the Blues in the Championship last season and Marcelo Bielsa will hope he can fire Leeds to promotion alongside Patrick Bamford should he land him.
The verdict
Bamford has netted 10 times in 25 appearances so far this term, so with Nketiah returning to Arsenal, it’s key they find another striker to help him out in front of goal. Last January they missed out on signing “number one” target Dan James at the last minute and they won’t want to do that again with Adams.
With the 23-year-old not getting much minutes at Southampton, they have a real chance of getting one of last season’s top Championship strikers for very little, if a loan deal can be worked out. Bamford needs competition/cover up front with Nketiah gone and Adams would certainly provide that. Maybe he’s the key to that long-awaited promotion.
Leeds rival Spurs for Croatian midfielder
Croatian outlet Tportal have reported that Leeds are in a fierce fight this January window for HNK Rijeka midfielder Ivan Lepinjica. The 20-year-old has played 11 games in the league this season and has even played four times in Europa League qualifying. The relatively unknown quantity is also believed to be Tottenham’s sights.
West Brom and Chelsea are two other teams being mentioned in the report as being interested along with Italian clubs Juventus, Atalanta, Sampdoria and Fiorentina. Tportal say HNK Rijeka would want around £4.2m if they’re to consider selling him, and that price could be driven up considering the number of clubs believed to be interested.
Verdict
That’s a lot of teams supposedly interested in the youngster considering he’s only played 52 games at senior level in a league outside the big five. However, the money the club will demand isn’t high, so it might be worth the punt.
The Championship could be the right level in English football to join and the Leeds head coach is one of the best in the business – even Pep Guardiola has his quotes in his Manchester City office. The Leeds hierarchy wouldn’t be going wrong by signing a player like Lepinjica who Bielsa could mould and then the club see the benefits of in the long term.
Bielsa enquires about Liverpool starlet
Earlier this week Football Insider reported Leeds had enquired about the possibility of taking Curtis Jones on loan from Liverpool. He hit the headlines after scoring a world-class goal to win the Merseyside derby last weekend and admitted after the FA Cup game he was frustrated at the lack of minutes he was getting at Liverpool.
The enquiry reportedly came before that game and since then it’s believed that Jurgen Klopp has made it clear to Jones that he won’t be going anywhere this month in search of more football. He’s played just 14 minutes in the Premier League this season, but there’s been no reports that Leeds are planning on testing the resolve of the player’s club more.
Verdict
It’s a huge shame for Leeds that they won’t be allowed to take the 18-year-old on loan for the rest of the season. Bielsa could have worked with him to improve his game with the vision to keep him longer and tempt him out of his Liverpool comfort zone.
As mentioned above, taking advantage of Bielsa’s coaching pedigree would serve the club well in the long run, ensuring there’s less need to spend huge amounts on players who have been developed elsewhere. It could have been a huge opportunity for Jones, and he might regret not forcing a move if the second half of the campaign runs like his first.
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Leeds fans, who do you want to see brought in this month?
