This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…
Leeds United came incredibly close to returning to the Premier League last season, but they fell at the second to last hurdle as they lost to Derby County in the playoff semi-finals last season.
Some members of the fanbase think that Andrea Radrizzani’s failure to strengthen the squad in January is what cost them promotion, and that’s a fair point.
One of the most reputable journalists covering Leeds believes that the Whites can’t afford to make the same mistakes this time around.
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What’s been said then?
Hay believes that Leeds need to strengthen in January as they’re currently not showing any signs of running away with the league.
In a Q&A session for The Athletic, he said:
“What happens in January is going to depend on where Leeds are in the league but we’re a fair way in already and there’s nothing to suggest that Bielsa’s side are going to run away with it. I do think they’ll need an injection to get them over the line convincingly. Bowen would be a terrific signing (I like Eze too but I think you’d get more out of Bowen immediately). I just wonder if someone in the Premier League will fancy taking him.”
Spot on
It’s hard to disagree with the sentiment that Leeds were let down by their lack of January arrivals last season as their lack of depth was on show towards the end of that season. By the time January had come around, they’d had 31 individual injury issues.
Of course, this wasn’t for a lack of trying as they attempted to get Dan James through the door, only for that deal to collapse late on.
Leeds are currently third in the Championship, but with the xG table showing that they should be running away with the league, perhaps they’re only a couple of additions away from being able to dominate the division.
Hay’s suggestion of Jarrod Bowen could be exactly what United need to take that next step, as the £9m rated man scored 22 Championship goals last term, and he’s already hit nine this season.
