Leeds United could well have lost out on their heir to Samu Saiz during the most recent transfer market.
The Spanish attacker was an incredibly creative force for Leeds United during his time at the club, as in his 58 appearances he managed to contribute 10 goals and 12 assists – numbers which could have been greater had he not been shipped out of the club, first on loan to Getafe and then permanently to Girona.
Scoring goals has certainly been a problem for Leeds this season, with just 24 in their 21 games so far, and they apparently had the opportunity to bring in not one, but two players who could have taken on Saiz’s creative duty.
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Who were these players?
According to The Yorkshire Post, Leeds were offered Manchester United’s Donny van de Beek as well as Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Winks, but turned down the opportunity to sign the pair on loan, as Winks stayed in north London and Van de Beek moved to Everton.
Winks and Van de Beek are two players for whom playing time has been somewhat limited in recent seasons, and playing for Leeds may very well have been a great way for them to boost their careers and get some regular minutes. Not only that, but given how many chances Leeds tend to create given their attacking style, the move could really have made either man flourish under Marcelo Bielsa’s system.
Looking at Van de Beek in particular, the numbers he was able to produce while at Ajax are not dissimilar to Saiz’s at Leeds, all while playing at a much higher level – with the Dutchman going on to secure an Eredivisie title and a run to the Champions League semi-finals before eventually being lured towards an underwhelming spell at Old Trafford.
Bigger problems for Bielsa ahead?
Whilst those players might well have missed out on a chance to revive their careers at Elland Road, the decision not to sign them could well come back to haunt the Leeds boss as well.
Leeds were rather quiet during the window, not bringing in anybody for the senior side – a risky move considering the issues that they have faced this season as a result of their small squad.
You just have to hope that Bielsa doesn’t end up missing those extra bodies in the middle of the park between now and the end of the season. Given how close Leeds are to the relegation zone, it’s not impossible to think that they could be dragged into a real fight for survival soon, and the last thing Leeds need is to be running low on troops.
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