According to recent reports, some Premier League clubs have taken a liking towards Leeds United’s striker Kemar Roofe who has had a good season before being sidelined due to an injury. The interested clubs are Brighton and Hove Albion, Southampton and Burnley and there could be a bid coming United’s way in January for their 25-year-old forward.
Roofe’s presence in the Whites’ team has been missed since his injury as Bielsa’s men have failed to put the chances to bed in the last few games. However, he is close to coming back after missing almost three weeks of football now. Bielsa would hope that these rumours don’t distract him as they are going to need Roofe if they want to move back to the Premier League.
The Englishman has managed four goals and two assists and was the focal point of every United attack. More than his contribution on the goals front, the manager would be glad about his work rate and the shift he has put in every game so far.
Roofe might start as a striker, but he is seen almost everywhere on the pitch trying to exploit space in the opposition half. His pressing from the top has ensured United play their high-intensity football and it could be said that the striker is one of the most important players in the current setup.
Roofe started out as a winger when he joined the club in 2016. Last season, Paul Heckingbottom started to deploy him in central areas, and the Argentine manager Bielsa has persisted with that. One would have thought that Patrick Bamford’s signing would have kept Roofe on the bench, but such has been his performance that when both of them were fit and available, Bielsa always opted for Roofe over his big-money summer signing.
A move to the Premier League would tempt the Englishman, but United are also on the path to achieving something special. Leaving the club mid-way to join the benches of a Premier League club would not only hamper his development but also make him an unpopular player in the West Yorkshire circle.
A manager like Bielsa has managed to extract a lot out of him and our advice for the striker would be to stay put at Elland Road whatever be the offer in January. Bielsa too shouldn’t even consider selling his leading man as the team is already light in the attacking department after Bamford’s injury who is expected to be out until January. Tyler Roberts has stepped up in both of their absence but having Roofe in the starting 11 makes the Whites look more dangerous as the Englishman is relentless in his work-rate, smart in reading the game and clinical in his finishing.
