Leeds United in pursuit of QPR centre-back Rob Dickie
Leeds United are among a number of clubs who’ve been credited with an interest in QPR defender Rob Dickie ahead of January, according to The Athletic.
The football news outlet reports that Burnley, Southampton, West Ham and Wolves have also been keeping tabs on the 25-year-old centre-back, who’s described as “physical, adaptable, comfortable on the ball, confident enough to attack” and “decisive enough to defend”.
It is understood that if QPR decide to cash in on Dickie in the upcoming January transfer window then they’re likely to demand north of £10million.
Do we need him?
Leeds have plenty of centre-backs among Marcelo Bielsa’s senior options – but do they have the centre-backs that we’d like the club to have?
Robin Koch has, so far, been a bit of a flop with the Germany international spending most of his first season and a half at Elland Road out injured.
Diego Llorente has also had his injury issues and his form has dipped massively this season with Liam Cooper regularly draws criticism and Pascal Struijk gets sacrificed as the man to fill in at left-back or in the defensive midfield area whenever Bielsa needs him elsewhere.
Dickie is a right-footed centre-back who plays on the right-hand side of QPR’s back-three, marauding forward whenever he gets the chance and having a major say on the London club’s attacking play in the Championship.
He’s scored four goals in all competitions this season and two of them were results of his ability to charge forward despite his 6ft 4 frame.
The ex-Oxford United defender is described as a player “who’s built like an Olympic rower but with the touch of a No 10”.
It sure sounds as though he’d fit into Bielsa’s system and offer a perhaps more reliable option at the back than Koch.
We’ll see how this one develops but ahead of January, we do not need new defenders.
In other Leeds United news, Phil Hay has shared what the club has heard Deco saying about Raphinha’s future.