As Leeds United released their squad list for their pre-season tour in Australia, there were a couple of notable absences. Junior Firpo was the standout absence, with fans informed of an injury. In the days since, it has been revealed that the Firpo injury is far more significant than expected, with an estimated eight-week recovery time. This is likely to have significant effects on Leeds’ transfer policy as the consistent issue of a reliable left-back has returned.
Junior Firpo Injury Creates Concern for the Leeds United Transfer Market
What Is Junior Firpo’s Injury?
Thus far, the club has not announced what the injury to Firpo is. The most likely cause is a firm challenge involving Firpo during a friendly match against Blackpool on July 7, 2022. The left-back took an impact to the left knee in the challenge, and with manager Jesse Marsch explicitly referring to a prior MCL recovery in his interview with the Yorkshire Evening Post‘s Graham Smyth, the Firpo injury looks like the recurrence of an old issue.
BREAKING | Leeds defender Junior Firpo looks set to miss the start of the new season after picking up an injury in the friendly against Blackpool ⚪️
🗣️ Jesse Marsch: “He’s most likely out eight weeks.”#FFScout | #FPL | #LUFC pic.twitter.com/SEJq4YSY2q
— Fantasy Football Scout (@FFScout) July 13, 2022
What Is Firpo’s Return Date?
Based on the prediction of an eight-week recovery period, Firpo’s return will come around six matches into the season. This depends on his fitness throughout the recovery. Joint injuries and spending too long out of action have a tendency for flaring up again during the recovery period. If the Junior Firpo injury lasts as long as expected, this means missing the first six matches of the season. The Spaniard could also be a doubt for the home tie against Nottingham Forest.
How Does the Firpo Injury Affect the Squad?
Left-back has been an area Leeds has needed to address for years now, with Firpo the attempt at a permanent solution last summer. Injuries mean that the position is an issue yet again. Firpo’s only senior cover, Stuart Dallas, is also out until approximately November with a broken leg. This leaves the side relatively threadbare.
Current options include Leif Davis, a loanee in the Championship throughout the last season. Davis played just 574 minutes last season, plagued by injuries himself and kept away from the starting eleven. Leo Fuhr Hjelde is the other option available for the Yorkshire side. He impressed in the U23 side last season and filled in at left-back when Leeds United had injury issues. Although both players show promise, neither is an ideal candidate for a starting berth at a Premier League side. There is also a discussion of transitioning centre-back Pascal Struijk or left-winger Jack Harrison into the role temporarily.
What Are Leeds United’s Transfer Options?
In spite of a busy transfer window with five incoming senior players, none of the options cover the left-back role. After all, Firpo was growing into the position and improving as time went on. Finding a player wasn’t necessary and the club was investing in more important positions. If Leeds United want a senior left-back for the first month of the season, they need to turn to the transfer market.
Whilst Leeds United have relatively few active links with left-backs, recent talk has included a move for Stoke City’s Josh Tymon. This closely follows the club’s recent philosophy of signing young players for development and sale at a later date. In spite of this lack of clear transfer rumours around the left-back position at Leeds, the Firpo injury is likely to lead to a sixth senior player coming through the door at Thorp Arch.
