January isn’t often a busy time for Yorkshire’s Premier League football club. However, Leeds United are busy this window, with two signings in the squad already. As transfer rumours keep swirling around Elland Road, take a look at the Leeds United predicted lineup once the January transfer window ends.
Leeds United Predicted Lineup After January Window
Leeds United Transfer Rumours
There have been two major purchases at Elland Road in this window so far, with Georginio Rutter joining for a record fee and Maximilian Wober arriving to shore up the defence. However, Victor Orta and his recruitment team aren’t necessarily done yet. One of the biggest rumours around the Whites at the moment is the question of Azzedine Ounahi, a Moroccan midfielder currently playing for Angers. The club are competing with Serie A leaders Napoli for the midfielder, so the pursuit could be incredibly difficult.
Elsewhere in midfield, Leeds United have some links to a holding midfielder. Local media outlets such as Leicestershire Live are reporting the club’s interest in Morten Hjulmand at Lecce. Competing clubs include Nottingham Forest, Leicester City and Southampton. In spite of these widespread reports, no reliable journalists with links to Thorp Arch have poked their heads above the parapet to say there is anything in this deal.
For simplicity, and given the club’s outlay already this window, the lineup assumes no further transfers before the deadline.
Read More: Leeds United Compete with Napoli for Azzedine Ounahi
Leeds United Attacking Options
The first major choice that Jesse Marsch has to make with his existing squad is around who to play at the top of the pitch. Although the club have been struggling, there is a wealth of talent up front. Rodrigo has scored eleven goals in nineteen appearances, Willy Gnonto is far exceeding the level his £4 million transfer fee would imply and Crysencio Summerville is also showing signs of quality. Outside of these Patrick Bamford is back from injury alongside Luis Sinisterra, not to mention the new signing of Georginio Rutter.
In fact, competition up front at Elland Road is so tight that there are rumours of wondering Joe Gelhardt leaving on loan to secure game time. It’s a nice problem for the American manager to have, but one that he will have to solve to get a tune and series of results out of his squad.
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Defensive Weakness
The club are undoubtedly weak at the back, having secured Max Wober as a means of adding some more stability. Tyler Adams also contributes a lot to the defence, but the side needs more stability from the back line alone to be certain of better results. Where Junior Firpo and Luke Ayling are serviceable enough wing-backs, Leeds United’s new Austrian defender can provide a defensive platform whilst Rasmus Kristensen bombs on down the right.
Centre-back is another problem position at the club. Jesse Marsch has four senior centre-backs to choose from, with Pascal Struijk, Robin Koch and club captain Liam Cooper all consistently starting. With Cooper’s age occasionally starting to show, we could see Pascal Struijk’s transformation back into a centre-back rather than a left-back, starting alongside Koch in a back four.
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Leeds United Predicted Lineup
Last Word on Football’s Leeds United predicted lineup is as follows:
Illan Meslier starts in goal, protected by Struijk and Koch. Kristensen plays in an attacking wing-back role with Wober potentially sitting in and providing a three-at-the-back structure when in possession. Tyler Adams and Marc Roca protect the back line.
Wilfried Gnonto plays as something of an inside forward on the left-hand-side, opposite more traditional winger Luis Sinisterra. Georginio Rutter drops in slightly behind Rodrigo, pressing and creating chances for the Spaniard to finish.
