By Mark Smith

17th Aug, 2021 | 4:00pm

Graham Smyth: Leeds cries for midfielder could go into 2022

Leeds United have been crying out for a major midfield signing ever since returning to the Premier League.

There is no cover for Kalvin Phillips, and Stuart Dallas has been pushed forward to challenge Mateusz Klich in the heart of the side.

Victor Orta has made that area a priority this summer but has made no progress with two weeks left in the window.

Huddersfield Town midfielder Lewis O’Brien has been identified, but with two bids rejected, a third is yet to be launched.

That’s according to Graham Smyth, who has shared our worst nightmares in his latest Yorkshire Evening Post piece.

“Sign a midfielder, is a cry that looks set to ring out again in 2022,” he wrote.

“Unless Leeds’ prevailing interest in Huddersfield Town’s Lewis O’Brien sends them back to the table with an increased bid. Even that particular signing would not bring total peace of mind, given his inexperience.”

Got to be kidding.

We desperately need options in midfield and the final third.

Playing Robin Koch in that holding role on Saturday once again proved that the experiment has to be stopped and both he and Pascal Struijk can’t play in midfield.

They get dragged from pillar to post in that role, and especially in this system, we need a midfield specialist moving forward if Phillips is out.

O’Brien may not be the huge name people were expecting, but he could be perfect for the role, and won’t expect immediate starts.

The 22-year-old has also worked with Carlos Corberan for over a year, and that means he will know slightly how Marcelo Bielsa works.

It is time to get this one done, we can’t wait until January.

In other Leeds United news, Adrian Durham launches ludicrous Whites attack, suggests big player exit after incident