Leeds United have kept plugging away with positive results even though they haven’t played their best football off late. United currently occupy the top spot and are six points clear of the 3rd place. The signs are promising, and with January transfer window approaching, the club should be eyeing some smart acquisitions to bolster their squad.
Injuries have definitely plagued the current team especially at the back, and recently Samuel Saiz’s departure to Getafe has been confirmed. In such an instance, the Whites should be looking to bring in a replacement for their influential playmaker as well as a defender. However, Marcelo Bielsa gave an interview recently where he still seems adamant on not making new signings in the winter transfer period.
He was quoted as saying (Leeds Live), ”The possibility of strengthening the team is hypothetical, it’s not concrete or clear. There are some clear facts; For example, we have less players than at the beginning of the season. To add players to the team increasing the level of the team is not easy. If we find players better than those who left it will be a good addition to the team. It’s only a possibility for now.”
It’s clear from the Argentine’s words that signing a new player is only a possibility and not a certainty at the moment. However, we expect at least a goalkeeper being signed in January after Jamal Blackman had to return to Chelsea after he broke his foot.
Bielsa has often shown trust in young players in the times of distress and injuries, and to be fair, the likes of Aapo Halme, Jamie Shackleton, Jack Clarke and Tyler Roberts have done well whenever they have gotten their chances.
However, the team is relatively inexperienced, and the club should at least look to add players in those positions where they have lost someone. In an ideal world, the Whites should look to sign a goalkeeper, an attacking midfielder and probably a left-sided winger as well (on top of a defender). However, Bielsa has continuously played down any significant incoming movement happening in the January window.
Hopefully, this approach in the transfer window won’t come back to bite them in the next few months. Getting top players in January is anyway tough as most of the teams don’t want to sell their prime assets midway through the season. However, there are certain gems out there who can turn up at Elland Road and increase their promotion chances. We really believe Bielsa is making a mistake here and hopefully, all he is doing is not showing his hands going into the January transfer window.
