OPINION
Ezgjan Alioski could be the man who pays the price for Leeds United’s January signing plans.
And the biggest beneficiary is likely to be spearhead Kemar Roofe as the club lay the foundations for an overhaul of their attack.
Football Insider has claimed Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa wants three areas of the team strengthened in the forthcoming window.
Those include centre-forward, centre-back and the left-wing position where Alioski has started all 13 Championship matches for the club this season.
The Macedonia international has finished most of them, too, including Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Blackburn Rovers, where he was dropped back to left-back as his side chased a late equaliser.
Alioski started the season well, and his tally of three goals and three assists is creditable, if far from earth-shattering, for a wide attacker.
But even his greatest admirers would admit the 26-year-old’s performances for the last six weeks have been well below par, and not good enough for a player whose main role is to create goals, combine the play and provide a regular supply line from out wide.
Alioski’s work ethic is undeniable, but, too often his end product is woeful, with some of his crossing in recent matches of Sunday league standard.
Behind the scenes, Leeds appear to recognise this, too.
Bielsa has been loyal and consistent up until now, but he must use the January window to strengthen areas of the squad that are malfunctioning.
Leeds have showed this year with four £3million plus signings – Tyler Roberts, Adam Forshaw, Patrick Bamford and Barry Douglas – they are willing to spend big on new players.
They must do the same for a left-sided attacker and, if they get a top operator, it could spell the end for Alisoki.
The man who would benefit the most would be main goalscorer and centre-forward Roofe, who must be brought back into a central role on Wednesday night against Ipswich Town.
He needs a far better supply line than he is getting and would be in dreamland if he got it in January.