Championship club Leeds United are reportedly considering a move for Spanish midfielder Mario Ortiz as the Whites gear up for the next season in full throttle. After an inspiring season, which was brought to a calamitous end by departed manager Garry Monk, the historic English club has grand plans for a complete revamp before they begin their campaign next season.
Under their new owner, Andrea Radrizzani, the club has taken some much-needed steps that were pending for years now. Not only in the squad, but the club is seeing over some changes in the administrative level as well. There is a new chairman, managing director and also a director of football.
And Leeds have gone out of their way to bring in former Real Madrid’s director of strategy Ivan Bravo to their board, in hopes of bringing in talents that could lift the club to a greater level. And it seems to have already started to work for them, as Ortiz becomes the latest name to be linked from Aspire Academy of Qatar, where Bravo is a general director as well.
Midfield has been a huge problem for Leeds last season. Although they had missed the playoff position by five points, the team has collectively failed to produce enough threat for the opponents in the attacking third. The Whites have managed to score just 61 goals last season, which is directly proportional to the number of chances its midfield has created.
If not for Chris Wood’s heroics, Leeds would have further found themselves down the table. The one who came the closest to provide the New Zealand international with any achievement whatsoever has been Pablo Hernandez. And the club is willing to bring in yet another Spaniard to provide him with the required support in boosting their productivity, in Ortiz.
A Racing Santander youth product, Ortiz was loaned off to CD Castellón when he was only in their B team. He wasn’t very notable and yet another unsuccessful loan stint with lower-tier side UB Conquense meant Racing let him leave for free. His underwhelming displays continued with CD Puertollano and Espanyol, where he failed to impress in any way whatsoever.
However, it was his loan move to Spanish third-tier side Albacete Balompié that saw him get some limelight and Cultural Leonesa bought him after three impressive seasons in 2016. He has signed for Aspire Foundation and reports in Spain suggest that Leeds are among two other clubs, Belgian side KAS Eupen and another of Aspire’s satellite teams, where he could end up next season.
However, given his slow rise to third-tier prominence and failure to get into Spain’s national team at any level whatsoever, doesn’t quite make him a Leeds United target who have produced some of the biggest talents over time.
