Leeds United had a painful end to the January transfer window as they missed out on the signing of Daniel James in the last few hours of the transfer period. The consensus was that the Whites had a poor outing in terms of acquiring players as they managed to solidify only one position by bringing in Kiko Casilla from Real Madrid.
However, there was another shrewd signing from the club which kind of slipped under the radar and that was of Polish midfielder Mateusz Bogusz. Given that he is a 17-year-old, many would have assumed that Bogusz is going to be a prospect for the future and he is going to take a few years before he makes his way into the senior team.
But we believe, the Polish midfielder can make an impact even in the ongoing season. The 17-year-old is already featuring for the Whites’ u-23 side when he could have been picked for their u-18 team. That in itself showcases how highly he is rated.
The midfielder recently put in an outstanding performance against Watford’s u-23, and we wouldn’t be wrong in saying that he looked the part at such a young age. The Whites ran out 3-0 winners, and Bogusz played as an attacking midfielder where he looked at ease and made some influential moves. The former Ruch Chorzow midfielder even came close to scoring, but he only managed to hit the post. However, there is no doubt that he has it in him to thrive at this level.
Corberan had deployed Izzy Brown on the left wing, and Bogusz was allowed to play from the central areas. Therefore maybe the youngster could be in line to be promoted as an attacking midfielder to the first team if current first choice options become unavailable (Because of injuries or suspension).
However, with title and promotion race at full tilt, Bielsa might be a bit sceptical about throwing someone like him in the game when every fixture from here onwards is going to be like a Cup final.
Nevertheless, one thing is clear that the Whites have a proper talent at their disposal. His sharp movements and ability to find his team-mates in tight space showcases his footballing IQ. If Bielsa feels like giving someone like Mateusz Klich some kind of a breather, Bogusz can make his debut as a substitute as Klich has looked jaded on occasions given the number of games he has played this season.
