Marcus Tavernier is on the radar of Leeds United – but what could a swoop for the 22-year-old mean for the club?
According to Football League World, Leeds sporting director Victor Orta is a fan of the winger, who has helped push Middlesbrough into play-off contention.
Boro managed to survive the January transfer window without losing Tavernier, but it could be a different story in the summer if Chris Wilder fails to spur his side to Premier League promotion.
It is often seen that when clubs narrowly fail to make it to the Premier League, their key players leave for sides in the top tier, so it is imperative that if Wilder wants to keep his main men, he must gain promotion.
So what could be in store for the Whites if they are able to prise Tavernier away from the Riverside?
Perfect for Bielsa?
Bielsa is known for mixing up his team in terms of shape and the positions that he plays his players in, as he loves players with versatility.
Across his side, he has several players who can play in multiple positions in order to suit his unique system, such as Jack Harrison and Stuart Dallas.
Tavernier, who is valued at £3.15 million (as per Transfermarkt), has particularly shown just how versatile he can be this season, as he is predominantly a left-sided player, but has also featured on the right and in the centre of midfield due to his passing ability.
Leeds have experienced a number of different injury crises this season, which has forced Bielsa into all kinds of decisions, such as deploying Robin Koch at the heart of the midfield, playing Jamie Shackleton at right-back at times, as well as deploying Daniel James in the No 9 role in Patrick Bamford’s absence.
So being able to have another player who can fit into multiple roles would surely be Bielsa’s dream, with an injury crisis never too far away when it comes to Leeds this season.
Also, the young midfielder has thrived in Chris Wilder’s front-foot system at Middlesbrough with plenty of pressing, which is something that could help him fit in seamlessly at Leeds.
Another Orta gem?
Orta has a history of sourcing youngsters that Bielsa has then moulded into his type of player, and this could be a similar story if Tavernier were to sign for Leeds.
The likes of Joe Gelhardt, Illan Meslier and Pascal Struijk have all thrived since arriving at Leeds, so you can understand why Orta continues to look at bringing in younger players, with Mateo Joseph Fernandez being one of his latest additions.
Tavernier is just 22 years old and has over 136 appearances for Boro. His form has seen a massive turn in recent times as when he was first coming through the ranks, there were question marks over his abilities as a player.
So it could have all the hallmarks of another Orta success story. Therefore, if Leeds go for the Middlesbrough talent, Orta may well be putting his reputation on the line once again.