Marcelo Bielsa has identified winger Stuart Dallas as a potential solution to Leeds United’s need for central midfield reinforcements, according to Phil Hay.
The Yorkshire Evening Post correspondent revealed in a Twitter exchange with United supporters on Wednesday afternoon about Bielsa’s transfer plans that the manager is ready to hand the Northern Ireland international a new deep-lying role.
Hay explained how the Argentine is keen to bring in a new central midfielder before the loan window shuts on 31 August, but regards wide man Dallas as a surprise alternative option.
apparently he sees potential in Dallas as a centre mid. Hernandez isn't going to play 46 games and Roberts/Harrison are fairly young. Think they'd just like to make sure they're covered.
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) August 15, 2018
I really don't get the impression that Bielsa is bothered about a CB. Might get one but doesn't seem to be losing sleep over it. Would like a winger. Extra CM would be useful too.
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) August 15, 2018
OPINION
Dallas has been used predominantly as a wide attacker, usually on the left flank, since joining Leeds from Brentford in the summer of 2015, although he has occasionally filled in at full-back, particularly at the back end of last season. It would rank as a major shock if Bielsa was to use him in central midfield, a role requiring totally different characteristics to that of a wide player. However, Leeds do not have an embarrassment of riches in that position following Ronaldo Vieira’s sale to Sampdoria earlier this month. Kalvin Phillips and Mateusz Klich have emerged as the first-choice central midfield partnership in the new campaign, supported by loanee Lewis Baker and rookie Jamie Shackleton, although Adam Forshaw will surely figure strongly when he returns from injury. With Eunan O’Kane and Vurnon Anita seemingly surplus to requirements, the Dallas option is an intriguing one. Many will claim Bielsa should know better than anyone else the 27-year-old’s potential and, given the remarkable start to his tenure, his tactical knowledge is second to none. Should Dallas start controlling matches from central midfield at some point in the campaign, the Argentine alchemist will have pulled an absolute rabbit out of the hat.