According to Goal, Leeds United had expressed interest in Curtis Jones in the summer. The club’s sporting director even explored a deal to sign the Liverpool midfielder on a short-term loan contract, but the attempts were immediately rebuffed by the Merseyside giants. Jones is believed to be a part of Liverpool’s first-team plans, which is why the club had refused to sanction his departure despite interest from a few Premier League clubs.
Leeds United’s Midfield Woes
After an impressive ninth-placed finish in the Premier League last term, there are high hopes from the Leeds United side this season, with many even predicting European football for the club during the 2022/23 campaign.
However, the club’s preparation heading into the new season has been a little off. The summer exit of Pablo Hernandez coupled with the struggles of Jamie Shackleton and Adam Forshaw meant Leeds had needed reinforcements in the midfield department.
But it never arrived as the Whites failed to sign a single midfielder during the summer transfer window. It leaves them with Kalvin Phillips being the only reliable option in the holding midfield role while Mateusz Klich and Stuart Dallas are the only two advanced midfield options Bielsa could trust.
This lack of depth in midfield could prove to be a massive issue for Leeds United, especially as they look to deal with the burden of competing in three different competitions this season with the hectic footballing schedule in England that having normalised player injuries.
A Missed Opportunity For Leeds United?
Leeds United’s failed pursuit of Curtis Jones wasn’t necessarily a missed opportunity for Liverpool, since the youngster was never available in the market. But the Englishman could have indeed been an ideal addition to the Leeds camp that desperately requires another option, especially in the advanced midfield slot.
Jones has had a rapid rise to prominence, especially with his performances last term. His box to box quality has turned a lot of heads in English football, with Klopp now considering himself as a viable first-team option for Liverpool this season.
At Leeds United, Jones could have been an ideal alternative for Klich in the hybrid number eight/number ten role. His athletic nature of play means that the youngster could have also thrived under the highly dynamic tactical philosophy professed by Bielsa.
Hence, the failed pursuit of Jones could certainly be a blow for Leeds United during the first half of the campaign. But the club must do everything they can to secure the services of a new midfielder in January in order to supplement an ailing midfield unit.
