Leeds United signing of Weston McKennie allows midfield tactical shift – Tony Dorigo
Tony Dorigo believes a Leeds United midfield combination of Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams is a “match made in heaven” and hinted that Jesse Marsch might consider a tactical shift due to the signing.
The Whites completed a stunning month of business with the acquisition of Juventus midfielder McKennie, who has prior experience playing at Champions League level as well as accumulating 41 caps for his country.
Marsch is expected to field the two childhood teammates together for the remainder of the season at Elland Road in a new-look midfield.
BT Sports pundit Dorigo admitted he thought McKennie also offered Marsch the flexibility to shift into a three-man midfield – something that hasn’t been seen very often this season.
Writing in his column for the Yorkshire Evening Post (Wednesday 1 February), he said: “He was a threat going forward, a really hard worker and you can add to the fact that obviously we have the Americans with us already and Tyler Adams in midfield. It’s a match made in heaven.
“His arrival gives the option of playing three midfielders across the middle.
“At times, Jesse might still go with a 4-2-3-1, but the option is certainly there for a 4-3-3, which is how we went in the December friendlies when we tried to look at how we would play against Manchester City with that third player in there.”
Blockbuster midfield
The January transfer window has defied all Leeds fans’ expectations, and the signing of McKennie was the cherry on top.
After playing together with Adams in years gone by, and considering his experience playing the very highest level in Europe, he looks like a ready-made Premier League player.
Marsch will hope the former Juventus midfielder can hit the ground running at Elland Road, and his prior knowledge of how Adams play should help him do so.
The possibility of fielding the two U.S. teammates alongside Marc Roca in a midfield three is also an interesting proposition against the top-six sides.
Leeds’ American manager will hope his new signing will be ready for a trip to the City Ground to face relegation rivals Nottingham Forest., before a trip to Old Trafford next Wednesday (8 February).
The matches are set to come thick and fast, but the addition of McKennie should help Marsch to navigate these choppy waters.
In other Leeds United news, a Sky Sports journalist has shared whether Weston McKennie can make his debut against Nottingham Forest.