According to Telegraph, as cited by Yorkshire Evening Post, Leeds United are ready to make a January move for Dan James. The Manchester United attacker has been identified as one of the potential targets for the newly-promoted Premier League outfit, who are looking to take advantage of the pending arrival of Atalanta winger Amad Traore to Old Trafford next month.
Do Leeds United Need Another Attacker?
Leeds United fans have had very little complaints regarding the club’s attacking unit that has scored 22 goals so far this campaign. The likes of Patrick Bamford and Jack Harrison have fared better than expected at the highest level of football while new signings like Rodrigo or Raphinha are slowly integrating themselves into Marcelo Bielsa’s style of play.
Leeds’ recent 5-2 win over Newcastle United gave a clear indication of the club’s ability to create chances. However, they have been a little too wasteful in front of goal this season, which has cost them points – especially the draw with Arsenal earlier in the campaign.
As far as the team depth is concerned, Bielsa doesn’t have any major problems either. Raphinha has established himself as a key outlet at right-wing, but Helder Costa and Ian Poveda can both offer an alternative while Harrison is backed by Ezgjan Alioski on the opposite flank.
We should also consider Bielsa’s lack of rotation policy, so the addition of a new winger seems rather redundant for the Whites at the moment. If anything, they do need a reliable back-up for Bamford, who has been inconsistent despite his impressive scoring numbers.
How Can Dan James Be Useful?
From a sporting perspective, as discussed earlier, Dan James could find it difficult to get regular game-time due to Leeds United’s strong attacking depth. He could, however, provide direct competition for Harrison on the left flank with Bielsa reserving Alioski exclusively for the left-back or left wingback role.
The Welshman has the pace, determination and skill that could be useful for the Leeds United attack that has proved to be quite a threat for Premier League defences this season. He can also provide Bielsa with additional tactical choices as the winger can feature on both the flanks. It bodes well for the Leeds boss who might have to offload Tyler Roberts in January while Costa has fallen a bit out of favour following an impressive start to the campaign.
Yet, James is not a safe option for the Whites. The 23-year-old has struggled at Manchester United and may not find immediate success at Elland Road, particular due to lack of guaranteed game-time. It thus makes him a gamble for Bielsa as we head into the January transfer window.
