Adam Forshaw can expect big role at Leeds United next season
Leeds United have been dealt a big blow in their pursuit of signing a new central midfielder this week.
The Daily Mail has reported that Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher has snubbed interest from Leeds in order to join Crystal Palace on loan.
Gallagher, 21, impressed on loan at West Brom last season and his all-action style of play, plus his midfield versatility, would have no doubt been great for Marcelo Bielsa.
However, it seems as though the Chelsea player is someone Victor Orta can cross off his shortlist.
Another central midfielder who’s been linked with Leeds as of late is Manchester City’s Yangel Herrera with El Gol Digital reporting the Whites are willing to meet the £20.4million valuation that’s been placed on his head.
However, unlike Gallagher, Herrera is unproven in the Premier League and has spent his four seasons at Man City on loan at New York City, Huesca and Granada.
While a move for Venezuela international Herrera, 23, could still be on the cards, Bielsa could save Andrea Radrizzani millions of pounds by using a player who’s right under his nose.
Adam Forshaw is back from injury and played for Leeds in a pre-season friendly match against Guiseley earlier this week when he came off the bench as a second-half substitute.
It will be two years since Forshaw, 29, last played first-team football in September due to serious setbacks in the last couple of seasons.
However, Bielsa still rates the former Middlesbrough midfielder highly and according to The Athletic journalist Phil Hay, Bielsa has been heard by coaches saying that he has the ability to play Champions League football.
It’s a massive claim by Bielsa, especially as Forshaw has been out of action for almost two whole years and didn’t really impress that much in the Championship.
At the start of our promotion-winning season, Forshaw was a regular in the centre of Bielsa’s midfield before being struck down by a hip injury that ruled him out for the campaign.
In those matches, he did impress and we really feel as though Forshaw is not finished yet at Leeds.
He will have to work hard to impress with his contract due to expire next year but based on what Bielsa has been saying about him behind the scenes, you’d imagine that he’ll be involved in the upcoming Premier League campaign once he’s fully up to speed.
In other Leeds United news, this midfielder has been sent back to Elland Road after being rejected.