One area Leeds United will look to address this summer is likely to be the no.10 role after missing out on signing an attacking midfielder at the beginning of the season – but now, they have an opportunity.
It is the one position where Leeds actually lack a natural player. Georginio Rutter was hardly ever a no.10 before the start of the season before Daniel Farke started using him in that role, ahead of Joel Piroe.
Piroe himself is a striker, not an attacking midfielder and that is probably why the Dutch ace is currently on the bench. Leeds tried to sign a no.10 last summer, with star Nadiem Amiri travelling to Yorkshire.
A move fell through and Amiri is now at Mainz. Another player the Whites tried to sign was Celtic’s Matt O’Riley. Leeds bid £10m for the Denmark ace towards the end of the summer window, but it was rejected.
Little surprise. O’Riley has starred for Brendan Rodgers’ side this season, having a hand in 26 goals from midfield for the Scottish champions. Reports say Leeds could make another move for the playmaker.
Celtic willing to listen to offers for Leeds target Matt O’Riley
That is, if Leeds get promoted back to the Premier League. Of course, Leeds will not be able to splash £25m on a player if the club fail to get promoted come May, and end up staying in the Championship.
But with Leeds sitting in first place in the Championship table, promotion looks likely. TeamTalk now deliver an update on Celtic’s stance over a possible move for O’Riley, and they say Celtic will sell him.
They are willing to ‘listen to offers’ for O’Riley – but only if the offers are of a reasonable size, with the price tag set at a huge £25m. A player that has three years left on his contract at Parkhead right now.
What a signing O’Riley would be for Leeds. That no.10 is missing even if Rutter has taken to the position like a duck to water. But even with Rutter shining, there is no competition or back-up for the Frenchman.
O’Riley would be sensational signing for Leeds if at all possible
What O’Riley offers, is the ability to beat a low block. Something Leeds have struggled with this season. Celtic come up against defensive sides all season domestically, and yet O’Riley’s stats are remarkable.
If Leeds do get promoted, then splashing £25m on O’Riley is certainly a risk given the amount of cash on the table. But, he is young yet experienced, a good character and fills a void missing in the Leeds squad.
A natural no.10. One that Leeds must look to do if we do go up, but any move will be determined by what happens over the next couple of months. O’Riley would be a superb signing, if it is at all possible.
Receive a digest of our best Leeds content each week direct to your mailbox
