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'Indications from the club' – Phil Hay makes Leeds transfer claim, Dominic Matteo responds
Athletic journalist Phil Hay has said that “indications from the club” are that Leeds United will be looking to buy the “best of the Championship” as they head back to the Premier League.
Hay was talking on a live Promotion Party special on Twitter, accompanied by Dominic Matteo, boxer Josh Warrington and actor Ralph Ineson.
Hay said, “The indications from the club are that they’re going to go for the best of the Championship, so, if I could give you one signing, one player from the Championship, who would you go for?”
Warrington looked like he’d just been put on the spot and Matteo stepped in.
“I’ll help you out here Josh, Mitrovic,” Matteo said.
Ralph Ineson agreed saying, “Exactly what I was going to say. He jumps out because he’s exactly what we need and I think Bielsa is the man who could tame him.”
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Mitrovic tops the Championship scoring charts ahead of the last game of the season with 26 goals to Ollie Watkins 25.
Patrick Bamford has 16 for Leeds but he offers so much more than just goals to Marcelo Bielsa.
Mitrovic has never hit the same heights in the Premier League and he’s fallen foul of several of his former managers, including Steve McClaren and Rafa Benitez.
His temperament is suspect and he was banned for three games recently after elbowing Ben White in the first few minutes of Leeds’ 3-0 win over Fulham.
Yes, he scores goals at Championship level but we’re not convinced that he’s a Bielsa player. He doesn’t offer much besides a target in the box and he would cost a lot of money.
He’s on a reported £60,000-a-week at Fulham and while he might not relish another season in the Championship, we’re not convinced Leeds would take a risk on him.
We like the plan of taking the best players in the Championship.
Leeds fans might be looking for bigger names but players like Said Benrahma are bona fide Premier League stars in waiting. Of course, Brentford could still get promoted.
One Championship player that Leeds do seem interested in is Wigan’s Joe Gelhardt. According to Alan Nixon, Leeds met with him on Monday and could try to wrap up a quick deal for the 18-year-old.
That’s a much more progressive signing than a big-money bid for Mitrovic.
In other Leeds United news, ‘Hello Adidas’, ‘I’m so pumped’ – These Leeds fans react to official club post