Leeds United came perilously close to Premier League promotion, but they faded in the final lap as they stumbled to get over the line. Nevertheless, they will be considered as one of the favourites to move up next season, especially now that they have managed to keep hold of Bielsa for another year.
Bielsa’s problem on the wings
It has been widely reported that Leeds United are in the market to sign three wingers in the summer. It is no surprise to see the Whites wanting to improve on the wide department as the likes of Ezgjan Alioski and Jack Harrison were below par in their performances for the most part. Pablo Hernandez did a fine job from the right, but he often looked to drift inside. Honestly, he doesn’t have the pace anymore to run the defenders ragged. Therefore the clubs should seek to add reinforcements on both the flanks.
One player they can go after is former Liverpool player Ryan Babel who is set to be out of contract after his impressive season in the Premier League for Fulham. Babel has enjoyed a late surge in his career as he also started getting picked in the Netherlands national team.
The Cottagers might have struggled last season, but along with Aleksandar Mitrovic, Babel was the standout player for them in the attacking half of the pitch. The winger contributed with five goals and four assists in 16 Premier League appearances, having joined them in January.
Babel might not be a long term option for the club, but the Whites can look to sign him on a one or two year contract after his impressive showing in the Premier League.
Pros and Cons of signing Babel
Moreover, this Bielsa team needs a bit of experience as they stumbled during the crunch phase of the season. An experienced player who has played in some of the biggest stages of football might be an excellent option to have.
In terms of abilities as well, Babel can trouble the defenders in the Championship with his impressive pace and dribbling skills. Physically too he can dominate his opponents as the Dutchman is tough to shrug off the ball. One drawback of signing this 32-year-old winger would be his work rate. Sometimes Babel might not be the hardest working man on the pitch, and that could turn out to be a problem for Bielsa.
However, we feel that the Dutchman can be a game changer, and the manager can probably make an exception for a talent like him. He can straightaway hit the ground running, and after his performances in the Premier League last season, he can be a shrewd pick on a free transfer.
