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MOT View: Two PL strikers linked with Leeds but neither set for move to Elland Road in Jan
January is going to be a quiet month for Leeds United. Director of Football Victor Orta has said so. Phil Hay has said it too.
Marcelo Bielsa is happy with what he’s got and given the form Leeds have enjoyed this season, it’s not surprising.
Even if Kiko Casilla is banned, the word is that Bielsa is set to give 19-year-old Illan Meslier the gloves rather than take a gamble in the January window.
It might not be the news that some Leeds fans were hoping for but it’s probably the best news they could have got.
We know Bielsa by now. If he was looking to add to his squad it would mean one of two things – serious injuries or serious under-performance.
Leeds have done okay with injuries this season, at least compared to last.
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Adam Forshaw is the one long-term problem and he’s still got no return date from his hip problem. Leeds have done okay without him so far.
There are two names that keep getting brought up – Matej Vydra and Dwight Gayle.
Vydra turned down Leeds once already and we got Patrick Bamford instead. You don’t get a second chance with Bielsa even if Leeds were in the market for a new striker.
Vydra’s name been doing the rounds for the past week or so but that definitely won’t be happening. Leeds will stick with their frontline as it is next month provided Nketiah stays. #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) December 2, 2019
The Telegraph mentioned Leeds again this week in their report that Newcastle are willing to sell Gayle for £15m.
Leeds won’t be buying him. We won’t be buying him because we don’t have that sort of money to spend. And we won’t be buying him because we don’t need him.
£15m for a player who is brilliant in the Championship but not cut out for the Premier League is a really bad deal when you’re favourites to go up.
We do think Gayle will end up in the Championship in January and we do think he’ll score goals – that’s what he does at this level.
But it won’t be at Elland Road. Nottingham Forest have already visited and that’s where we think Gayle is going to end up.
In other Leeds news, Paul Robinson picks his Leeds MotM from 4-0 win v Middlesbrough