Former Tottenham and England defender Ledley King believes that Leeds United tying Pablo Hernandez to a new deal has been one of the best decisions in the Championship and boldly claims that they are showing the form to be considering title contenders.
The Whites are as yet unbeaten in their opening five league games and sit at the top of the table on goal difference, with Friday night’s opponents Middlesbrough level on points.
After bringing in Marcelo Bielsa and seeing the arrival of a handful of new faces during the transfer window, King was raving over a deal done back in April instead, with veteran winger Hernandez committing himself to a two-year contract.
He wrote for Seven of the Best: “Leeds are proving to be the Championship’s team to beat as they walked through Norwich at Carrow Road to take their tally for the season to 13.
“Boro have matched Bielsa’s side and trail only on goal difference, but Leeds’s performances have been that of a Championship winning side so far, while Pablo Hernandez’ contract extension is looking like some of the best business in the league.”
Opinion
Hernandez was Leeds’ top performer in their turbulent last campaign and he has obviously not left any of his form behind over the summer as he continues to impress week in, week out. He has been a key part of Bielsa’s squad, despite all the new arrivals at Elland Road, and his talent and creativity up front is only going to help his team mates flourish alongside him. King might just be right – despite all the transfer activity in the second tier over the last couple of months, keeping a player of Hernandez’s calibre on their books and in the first team could prove to be a stroke of genius. As for their Championship hopes, King is confident they are performing like title winners. That is hard to argue against having brushed most aside, and even stayed unbeaten when clearly second best. That is the sort of attitude and quality you need to get out of the second tier – Leeds might just have it.