Leeds United may not sign left-back after Jesse Marsch update on Junior Firpo
Leeds United may not sign a left-back this summer after Jesse Marsch issued his latest injury update on the squad following the preseason victory over Cagliari.
As the transfer window developed and new arrivals were added to the squad in various other areas it became clear that the club were ready to entrust second-year United man Junior Firpo with the role despite a difficult first season at Elland Road.
Form, injuries, and catching Covid-19 all contributed to the signing from Barcelona struggling for the Whites, but he was slated to be the starter for the upcoming season.
When the 25-year-old was ruled out for eight weeks in mid-July [The Athletic] it seemed that a new left-back would become a priority, and even more so when potential deputy Leif Davis was then sold to Ipswich.
But with nobody yet through the doors in replacement it is beginning to look like the Whites are still happy to go with what they have.
Pascal Struijk filled in for the win over Cagliari and then afterwards Marsch suggested Firpo wasn’t far off a return.
The manager said, via the Yorkshire Post: “Liam [Cooper] will hopefully be on the pitch tomorrow.
“[Luis]Sinisterra is probably a week from being on the pitch, Firpo is probably two weeks from being on the pitch. I think Adam [Forshaw] is a week from being on the pitch.
“Luke [Ayling] is probably two weeks from being on the pitch. So we’re not at full strength but in two, three weeks, we will be close to that. With the only exception being Stuart Dallas.”
The American appears to believe that within a couple of weeks he will have nearly all of his players out on the training ground.
Even if that doesn’t mean they are all immediately fit to feature he sounds pretty satisfied with the situation.
If presumed starter Firpo is that close to a return, he may be banking on him being fit sooner rather than later and using cover from within the squad until then.
After the arrival of Rasmus Kristensen it remains to be seen whether Ayling might be an option on the left, and the surprise decision from Cody Drameh to stay with the squad provides another possibility.
Since Dallas is out long-term still it is clear that both Firpo and any of the back-up options will need to perform better than last season, if the apparent lack of urgency to add a new face by now is to not be a significant mistake.
In other Leeds United news, the club aren’t finished in the transfer market but will not “throw money” at goalscorer targets.