David Prutton has claimed Leeds United’s rivals would “snap your hands off” if offered the chance to sign their five senior injured players.
The Sky Sports pundit is not convinced his former club need to spend big in January or embark on a major recruitment drive given they have some stellar names on the comeback trail.
“In terms of recruitment you just have to look at those players that are injured,” Prutton told the Yorkshire Evening Post. “The likes of Liam Cooper, Stuart Dallas, Patrick Bamford, Gaetano Berardi and Izzy Brown will all be hoping to make their comebacks in the next few weeks. If you were to offer any of those players to Leeds’ rivals they’d all snap your hand off.
“The issue is whether they can keep them fit and maybe that’s the way Bielsa and Victor Orta are looking at it. The young lads that have been called upon have done extremely well and with those players coming back maybe they believe they have enough to see this through now.
“Bielsa has said this previously but if a player became available that can improve his starting XI then that’s something they may discuss. But if you can get those five on the pitch, they’re all top-quality Championship players.”
OPINION
There is some dispute as to whether Leeds’ rivals would snap their hands off to land Dallas and perhaps even Berardi, even though the latter is a battle-hardened warrior admired by his club’s supporters. Certainly, much-improved centre-back Cooper and attacking pair Bamford and Brown would walk into virtually every Championship side if fit and firing. The Leeds skipper could make his return against QPR in the FA Cup this week after a month out with a knee injury, but there is some considerable doubt as to when Bamford and Brown will be playing again. Both have broken down after appearing to be restored to full health following long-term knee injuries and sat out the festive period. If there is no guarantee of imminent comebacks, United should ignore Prutton’s advice and make a move to sign an attacking star capable of slotting into their first team in the second half of the season.