Isaac Schmidt has been a key talking point among Leeds United fans, despite him having made just seven Championship appearances so far this season, with none of them being starts.
Leeds United paid Swiss outfit St Gallen £4.5million to sign Isaac Schmidt during the summer. It was an exiting, albeit not an overwhelming signing for Daniel Farke’s side. But fans are yet to really see what the full-back can do.
A natural left-back who can also play on the right, Schmidt has been limited to last minute substitute appearances in the Championship so far. In fact, he only made his first start for the Whites in the last outing against Harrogate Town in the FA Cup.
Even with Junior Firpo injured, Schmidt can’t get a game. Leeds fans have called for Schmidt to start but Farke seems unconvinced by him so far.
Now in the build up to January, Leeds United have been linked with Bali Mumba at Plymouth Argyle: a flying full-back who Farke previously worked with at Norwich City.
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Carlton Palmer makes Isaac Schmidt point amid Leeds United links to Bali Mumba
Speaking to Football League World, pundit Carlton Palmer has discussed the rumoured Leeds United interest in Mumba. And the former England midfielder has made an interesting point about Schmidt at Elland Road.
Palmer said: “Leeds already have a versatile full-back who can cover both sides in the form of Isaac Schmidt, so I think this was more just a scouting mission [on Mumba] rather than them planning to make a bid for him.
“They may be looking to replace Junior Firpo, but as I say, they have a versatile full-back in that area already.
“I think this is just a case of Leeds having a list of players on their hit list, and I don’t expect Daniel Farke to be doing a lot of business in this January transfer window.
“It’s not an area that they really need to strengthen.” Palmer concluded: “I’d be very surprised to see anything happening with Bali Mumba this transfer window.”
Speaking in 2023, then Plymouth Argyle boss Steven Schumacher described Mumba as a player with ‘bags of potential’.
What Daniel Farke said about Isaac Schmidt after Harrogate Town
Whatever the case, Schmidt will get his chance to impress Farke sooner or later. And his strong outing against Harrogate will only bolster his chances of getting more game time in the Championship.
Farke spoke about Schmidt’s performance against Harrogate after the game, and the German was impressed. He said: “He is a really attacking full-back. He is adventurous. It’s difficult to judge right now [but a start is] important for him and his confidence. He looked sharp in many situations. It was beneficial for him his performance.”
Next season, with Firpo and Sam Byram both out of contract, that’ll inevitably bump Schmidt up in the pecking order. But if Leeds are promoted then Farke surely signs some new quality at full-back, which could leave Schmidt in the same position as he’s in now.
What 2025 holds for the flying full-back remains to be seen. As for Mumba, he looks like a passing target right now, as Palmer suggests.
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