talkSPORT journalist claims Leeds United set for ‘busy’ January after ‘big’ injury problems
Leeds United are likely to be busy in the January transfer window, according to talkSPORT journalist Alex Crook.
Speaking via talkSPORT on Wednesday (8 December) after reports that Kalvin Phillips (two months) and Patrick Bamford (two weeks) are set for spells on the sidelines with injuries [Telegraph], Crooks claims the Whites are gearing up for business in the winter market.
“I think you can add Leeds United to that list who might be busy in January as well with their Premier League status under threat, big injury problems there,” he said.
“Kalvin Phillips we know is going to be out for a short while now. Patrick Bamford, I was told yesterday, he injured himself celebrating that comeback goal at the weekend, so that’s bad news for Marcelo Bielsa.”
Double blow
Phillips and Bamford have established themselves as pillars of this Leeds under Bielsa, so their absences will be keenly felt this month and beyond in the case of the England midfielder.
It’s two positions where the Whites are already light.
There is no direct replacement for Phillips at the base of midfield with Pascal Struijk usually forced to undertake that role in the 26-year-old’s absence, and further forward, the likes of Mateusz Klich, Tyler Roberts and Rodrigo have failed to impress, while Stuart Dallas’ level seems to have dropped down.
Huddersfield Town’s Lewis O’Brien was heavily linked during the summer but the Whites may have to target a whole new profile of midfielder if they want to cover for Phillips, who may not return until February.
Bamford, meanwhile, is not expected to be out for as long as Phillips, but the 28-year-old has already missed a significant period of the season and his fitness will be under the microscope again when he does return.
Bielsa has struggled to fill the void left by Bamford in his injury absence and thus a new centre-forward is surely on the agenda in January.
In other Leeds United news, this ‘Incredible’ Whites-linked Dutch attacker’s price tag has been shared as a club launch a personal bid.