Who is Josh Mulligan? Meet the midfielder Leeds have made their move to sign
Leeds have identified Hibernian midfielder Josh Mulligan as their first January transfer target.
The Whites currently sit 16th in the Premier League table, and injuries have certainly hampered some of their results so far.
Mulligan has been linked with a move to Leeds, with Nottingham Forest joining them in making an early approach ahead of the winter window.
With Leeds also interested in Martin Baturina, it’s clear that the midfield position is one of their priorities in the January transfer window.
Mulligan has made 21 appearances in all competitions for Hibs already this season, and there are several reasons why he could be a perfect fit for Leeds.
Josh Mulligan has enjoyed a rapid rise in Scotland
Forest’s interest in Mulligan is said to be stronger at this point, with Leeds only making enquiries at this stage; however, interest remains high from Daniel Farke.
The 23-year-old initially emerged through the Dundee academy before moving to Hibs in the summer on a free transfer, with Rangers also said to be interested before that.
The Scottish midfielder is not just a creative influence in the middle of the park, but has a tenacious side to his game as well, registering 34 tackles and 87 recoveries.
| Stat | Mulligan |
| Appearances | 16 |
| Goals | 1 |
| Assists | 3 |
| Pass accuracy | 81.5% |
| Chances created | 14 |
| Touches in opposition box | 40 |
Sean Longstaff’s calf injury has left him out of action for up to eight weeks, and it feels clear that Farke wants to add depth to such an important position, especially in this new system.
Mulligan was a level above the rest in Hibs’ 3-0 win over Falkirk on Saturday, and it’s beginning to become clear that he is ready for the next step up.
Not only has he become a nailed-on start for the Edinburgh outfit, but there are now hopes that he could represent Scotland at the World Cup.
Anton Stach has been a brilliant signing for Leeds, and Mulligan is certainly someone who can adapt to Premier League football in a similar manner.
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Why can Josh Mulligan have a similar impact to Anton Stach?
Despite being 175cm tall, Mulligan has a similar profile to Stach, who has subjected the Elland Road faithful to moments of brilliance.
Both players have shown their creativity on the ball this season, while being incredibly industrious to win it back when out of possession.
That has even seen him compared to John McGinn.
The 2026 World Cup is fast approaching, and Mulligan is slowly making a case that he should be included in Scotland’s 26-man squad, with an ability to also play at right-back helping his cause.
Should he move to Leeds in the January transfer window, this could accelerate not only his club career but also his reputation on an international scale.
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