The lack of cover or options in the no.10 role is becoming more and more apparent this season, with Joel Piroe starring one week and struggling the next. It may be an area Leeds strengthen in January.
Piroe has scored plenty of goals but his creativity is often lacking and he wanders in and out of games far too easily. Cree Summerville and Georgie Rutter are often the ones supplying him, not vice versa.
Even if Piroe is starting, Leeds do not really have another option. Joe Gelhardt has been plagued by a number of injuries this season. Sean McGurk is starring in the 21’s, but yet to make his senior debut.
Leeds need a 10 and they know they do. That was proven by the summer’s pursuit of playmakers such as Nadiem Amiri and Matt O’Riley – both bids coming to no avail. We need a player like Samu Saiz.
Leeds are hardly going to go and re-sign the 32-year-old Spaniard, who is currently in Turkey playing for Sivasspor. But, having a player with that tenacity, flair, creation and aggression is just what we need.
Leeds United need a no.10 like Samu Saiz in January window
This season, Saiz is on fire. In 16 outings for Sivasspor, he has had a hand in eight goals. In his last four games, he has scored two goals and laid on two assists. His contract expires at the end of the season.
On Tuesday night, he netted in a 3-1 loss to Basaksehir (above). A brilliant player, that did almost give Leeds another Pablo Hernandez – when his fellow Spaniard was starring for Leeds. He left in 2019.
Leeds need a Saiz type of player in January, to come in and compete with Piroe. Whether we actually do go and sign a player that is capable of that next month, is unlikely. Kerem Akturkoglu has been linked.
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