Phil Hay of Yorkshire Evening Post who is often a very reliable source has claimed that Leeds United are not going to be interested in signing former Premier League winner Robert Huth. Just a few days back the German defender almost made a come and get me plea to the hierarchy at Elland Road but the at the moment, it does not seem like the move is going anywhere. The 34-year-old centre-back is currently a free agent. Therefore, the Whites can make a move for him even before the transfer window opens.
Hay was quoted as saying,”I have looked into this and from what I’ve been told there is no chance of him coming to Leeds, although he was angling for it. He was pictured in Leeds not so long ago and he was on the Sky Goals on Sunday program. How bad would the injury crisis have to get for Bielsa to start panicking? He hasn’t really blinked at the loss of Roofe, Bamford and Berardi.”
The Whites are definitely short on centre back options at the moment as apart from Liam Cooper and Pontus Jansson, no other out and out centre-halves are fit and available. It is likely that Bielsa would turn to Luke Ayling or Kalvin Phillips for that role if an injury happens right now. Like Hay indicated, the manager seems happy to trust in the current crop of players and even with two main strikers missing out, the former Argentina manager had no qualms in using Tyler Roberts as the front man who didn’t have any experience in the Championship before. The move seems to be paying off as the youngster has done quite well in the absence of main strikers.
Hay further added,”Huth said on Goals on Sunday that Leeds would be the perfect move for him, but Leeds don’t seem inclined to do that one at all, regardless of Huth’s track record. I don’t think his style of play is what Bielsa is looking for.”
Bielsa has often trusted young players in his managerial career over experienced men, and that could be one of the reasons why the club isn’t interested in making a move for the former German international. Maybe the gaffer feels that young players might give their all as they have a point to prove in their career and they would be willing to be coached in new philosophy and tactics. On the other hand, experienced veterans can sometimes be resistant to change when the manager asks them to play in a particular style so one can understand Bielsa’s scepticism.
However, Huth has been a thorough professional throughout his carer and his experience of the Premier League would have definitely come in handy in the Whites’ promotion pursuit. Only time will tell whether the club made the right choice by not going after the 34-year-old centre back. However, we are of the opinion that this, if true, would be a wasted opportunity. You do not get players of Huth’s experience everyday on a free and making a move for him should be a no brainer for Leeds.
