Nigel Martyn has told LeedsUnited.News that he thinks Norwich City star Todd Cantwell would be a good signing for Leeds United if they were to re-enter the January window for the playmaker – and has compared Robin Koch to Ben White.
Leeds were strongly linked with numerous attacking midfielders throughout the window and came within a whisker of nabbing Michael Cuisance from Bayern Munich. The Frenchman, though, failed a medical and has since joined Marseille.
Rodrigo De Paul, Ruslan Malinovskyi, Louie Sibley and plenty more were linked with a move to Elland Road – as was 22-year-old Cantwell. Victor Orta even confirmed to the Yorkshire Evening Post that Leeds had analysed Cantwell.
The Whites chose not to make a last-minute move for him, but could easily return in January. Leeds icon Martyn believes Cantwell – who is rated at £15million (PA) – would be a good signing after watching him against Everton last season.
“Yes I would [think he would be a good signing],” Martyn told LeedsUnited.News. “I saw him play for Norwich against Everton last season, and he stood out as the best player on the pitch that day – Norwich went on to win that game.
“Cantwell was definitely the best player. There was lots of energy, running into tackles, the sorts of things supporters would love. He looks a decent player, he would certainly add to an already great squad.
“You even look at the U23 side, it is a strong team. You need a good quality squad to keep it going when the injuries come in, and the games come thick and fast.”
Cantwell could be signed in the future, but an addition Leeds made in the summer that has starred so far is Germany international Koch. Playing every minute of all six games, Koch was brought in to replace Ben White.
The latter returned to parent club Brighton following his stunning 2019-20 campaign at Leeds in which he started all 49 matches. Sky Sports claim Leeds made three offers to sign White permanently, including a £25million bid.
While Martyn believes it was a shame to see White depart Leeds and return to Brighton, where he has since signed a new contract – he feels the addition of Koch has been a good one, applauding the scouting department at Elland Road.
“Firstly, you’ve got to applaud the scouting or Bielsa’s eye, because they’re two very young centre-halves. Ben White was tremendous. There was disappointment at Elland Road among fans when Brighton realised they needed to get him on a better contract and put him in their first team. That was a shame.
“But they have gone out and got someone who is in the Germany national side, he is young but there is potential there. It was probably about six months before he got on the radar of some bigger clubs. The scouting side of it, looks bob on.
“There has been some really good signings and he’s another one. It’s not always easy to go to a new side, but the more games they play, and they get used to it. Yes they have conceded a few goals, but there has been a tightening up of that.”
Koch is expected to remain at centre-back when Leeds are next in action on Monday night. They welcome Brendan Rodgers’ in-form Leicester City to Elland Road, who beat Arsenal last time out 1-0 at The Emirates.
