Neil Champney

Tue 16 June 2020 22:03, UK

Don’t be surprised to see Leeds United linked with their fair share of free transfers this summer. 

With the Coronavirus pandemic hitting the professional game squarely in the pocket, it makes sense for clubs to pursue cut-price deals wherever they can.

And one such move that has already been touted is a swoop for FC Nurnberg midfielder Patrick Erras.

According to the Daily Mail, the Whites have entered into preliminary talks for the 25-year-old, who is out of contract this summer.

They could, however, face competition from the likes of Brentford, Bristol City, QPR, and Blackburn Rovers.

So is he worth pursuing given the number of clubs we would have to fend off to land him?

On paper, he is certainly impressive.

According to Wyscout, he has a pass completion rate of 90.1% – 7.4% better than Kalvin Phillips’ this term.

Similarly, he has won 13.3% more duels per game than Phillips this season, as well as averaging 5.04 interceptions per game to the Elland Road hero’s 3.89.

Evidently, he is an effective, efficient midfield presence, and a closer look at him in action proves that too.

Above is Erras’ pass map from his outing against Hannover 96 earlier in the season.

In that game he registered 76 out of 81 passes at a success rate of 94%.

And the sheer density speaks volumes as to the amount that he dictated that match.

Shielding the back four, Erras is capable of taking the ball and moving it on with ease, and while that might not be the most glamorous job, it is an important one nonetheless.

Likewise, his impressive stature, standing at around 6’5″ makes him a useful asset in the air.

Against Hannover he won nine out of his 10 aerial duels, and while there is no real pattern, it is important to notice that cluster in and around the centre circle.

Having a midfielder who can win the ball in the air, take it down, and get his team moving again helps to cut a lot of attacks off at their source, and his obvious physicality wouldn’t come in wrong in English football at all.

Erras has been known to fill in at centre-back too, and has looked equally effective in that deeper role.

Against Heidenheim earlier this season, for example, he made 11 interceptions over the course of 90 minutes, as pictured above.

If you look at the distribution of those, they pretty much form a barrier along the edge of his own 18-yard box.

Clearly he is a player with a good, solid defensive understanding of the game, and the awareness and anticipation to quell a variety of threats.

If he’s available for free this summer, and if a deal is doable, we say go for it.

In other Leeds United news, ‘Only a topic of money’ – Championship boss has made a bold claim about the EFL & FA after Tuesday’s meeting.