Leeds United are weighing up whether to bring loaned-out star Lewie Coyle back to Elland Road next month, according to Marcelo Bielsa.
The defender, 23, is currently on a half-season loan at Fleetwood United but the Leeds manager has suggested he could start a fresh loan in the January window rather than return to his parent club.
Speaking at his media conference on Thursday, as quoted by the personal Twitter account of Yorkshire Evening Post correspondent Phil Hay, Bielsa explained director of football Victor Orta is to “analyse” and give “advice” on the next move for Coyle.
with regards to Lewie Coyle, whose loan at Fleetwood is up next month, Bielsa says they'll analyse what to do with him based on advice with Victor Orta. #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) December 6, 2018
OPINION
Could Coyle save Leeds millions in the January window? Or is the loaned-out star, who has been performing consistently in the Championship, not quite good enough to make it at his parent club? Coyle is reaching a crossroads in his United career after 70 appearances while on loan at Fleetwood in the last two seasons, including 22 in the current one, which have included 20 consecutive league starts. Certainly, he is a capable League One player and versatile, too. The Leeds academy product has switched between right-back and left-back this season, and even been used in central midfield. With Leeds desperately short of senior defenders – Liam Cooper, Luke Ayling, Gaetano Berardi and Stuart Dallas are all long-time absentees – Coyle would appear the obvious solution to the problem next month. But Bielsa is forever unorthodox and appears happy to rely upon even younger Leeds academy products than the one currently at Fleetwood.