In today’s Leeds United roundup, we take a look at what headlines are doing the rounds for the Whites. Danny Murphy believes the club will lose Kalvin Phillips if they don’t return to the Premier League next season, manager Marcelo Bielsa discusses the striker debate, and reports suggest Mateusz Klich and Luke Ayling are set for new deals.
‘I’m surprised he’s still there’, says Murphy
Report: Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy worries that Leeds could lose star man Kalvin Phillips, should they fail to earn promotion. Murphy told talkSPORT on Monday: “I’m surprised he’s still there. I like him a lot. He’s a great passer, tenacious… If Leeds don’t go up this season, and I really hope they do for their sake, he will leave.”
Verdict: Phillips has been one of Leeds’ more consistent players in recent times averaging a performance rating of 6.98 on WhoScored last season. The 23-year-old has risen through the ranks with the Whites and after scoring on his home debut in 2015, Phillips has gone onto make 151 appearances already and subsequently attracted attention from other clubs, including Aston Villa.
This season, as Phillips continues to prove his importance, the Englishman has averaged a WhoScored rating of 7.42. However, in relation to Murphy’s concerns, Football Insider reported that Phillips’ new deal includes a release clause that can be triggered if the club does not return to the Premier League.
Bielsa discusses Bamford and Nketiah partnership
Report: Bielsa has touched on the dilemma of playing both Patrick Bamford and Eddie Nketiah, telling reporters: “I think that your question is linked with the presence of Nketiah and Bamford together because maybe we can be more efficient with those two players in the team, two goalscorers are in better condition to take advantage of 10 chances.
“My answer is, if we play with two goalscorers, maybe we take Forshaw, Klich or Shackleton out, I think that one centre forward without two midfielders behind him is going to worsen the building of the attack.
“So if you have two centre forwards in a team that doesn’t create a lot of chances, you cannot take advantage of the resource that you have.”
Verdict: Nketiah has yet to start a Championship game for Leeds since joining on loan from Arsenal, but his two goals in just 89 minutes of play have certainly put forth a strong argument that he should start. However, it would be tough for Bielsa to drop Bamford based on the fact he has four goals in eight games and is the league’s joint-second top scorer, therefore forcing the Argentine to drop someone else.
It could also be a risky decision to leave out a midfielder, with Adam Forshaw averaging a performance rating of 6.83, Klich scoring 7.03 and Phillips boasting 7.42. So, although Nketiah clearly has the goalscoring touch, to sacrifice a consistent midfielder could spark defensive worries due to less bodies being in the engine room, and reduce their ability to actually get the ball to the centre-forwards.
Klich & Ayling expected to sign new deals
Report: As reported by Leeds Live, both Luke Ayling and Klich are ‘expected’ to sign new deals ‘imminently’. The club expects Polish international Klich to sign a long-term deal, whilst Ayling will follow shortly after.
Verdict: As the Whites continue to lead the way at the top of the Championship table, it is essential that Bielsa gets certain players wrapped up in their march for the Premier League. Currently, Ayling is on the verge of a return from injury after playing 42 times for the club in all competitions last year, scoring twice and assisting six times.
However, Stuart Dallas has turned in some excellent performances at right-back in Ayling’s absence, scoring a 7.13 rating thus far. But, with games coming thick and fast in the Championship, tying down players in such a frantic league is important for squad depth.
As for Klich, the Pole has played every game this season and has bagged a goal and an assist thus far, but his current contract is due to expire at the end of the campaign. It make sense, then, that Leeds are looking to secure his stay at the club for beyond the summer.
