MOT View: Leeds fans must watch int’l match next week, two potential signings play v each other
Leeds United do not play until they travel to Anfield to face Liverpool in just over two weeks’ time but there’s a match on the horizon that is bound to pique the interest of Leeds supporters.
Germany play Spain in Stuttgart in the UEFA Nations League next Thursday – and it’s an absolute must-watch for Leeds fans with the fixture likely to be aired on Sky Sports.
Spain forward Rodrigo is closing in on a deal to join the Whites in a club-record deal after undergoing a medical in Valencia on Wednesday.
Victor Orta has confirmed, via LeedsLive, that 29-year-old Rodrigo is set to be “the most expensive signing of Leeds’ history” once the transfer is completely finalised.
Everyone will want to see how Rodrigo performs in the Nations League showdown against Germany, who could also have a potential new Leeds singing playing for them.
Robin Koch was called up to the Germany squad earlier this week and the Freiburg centre-back could earn his third cap for Die Mannschaft while playing against striker Rodrigo.
The Athletic journalist Phil Hay has reported that he expects Leeds to bid for Koch, 24, before the end of this week as they aim to sign a new centre-back after missing out on Brighton’s Ben White.
Leeds tabled three bids for White but were rebuffed each time and have now set their sights on signing Koch instead [The Telegraph].
Koch’s two caps for Germany came last year when he played in a 2-2 draw against Argentina and an expected 4-0 win against Belarus.
He played all 90 minutes in a back-three against Argentina as the Germans let slip of a two-goal lead to draw in the friendly match in September.
Stats by WyScout show that Koch managed to live up to his reputation as a ball-playing centre-back in that match as he completed 88 per cent of all his passes and 60 per cent of the passes he attempted to play into the final third.
However, Koch was arguably at fault for Lucas Alario’s goal to get Argentina back in the game in the 66th minute.
As shown below, Koch was physically man-marking Alario on the edge of Germany’s penalty area while Argentina had possession of the ball in a deep, wide position.
However, as you can see in the next image, Koch then lost hold of Alario, who found space between him and another German defender.
Alario then went to head the ball into the back of the net because he was totally unmarked.
Of course, this is just one instance of Koch not fulfilling his defensive duties as good as he should have done.
On the whole, he’s a very solid defender who can also play in the defensive midfield role.
But keep an eye on his marking against Rodrigo next Thursday.
It could say a lot about both of the new potential new signings at Leeds.
In other Leeds United news, Phil Hay has addressed the issue on Rodrigo’s potential quarantine in the UK.