Since the summer window slammed shut, a whole heap of attacking players have been linked with Leeds United after Adam Underwood failed to do a deal for Fulham star Harry Wilson.
Despite scoring nine goals in their last four games, Leeds have struggled in the final third. It is not so much the quality of Dominic Calvert-Lewin or Lukas Nmecha, but more the service provided to them.
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Leeds lack creativity, and a big part of Daniel Farke’s switch to 3-5-2 is that, simply, Leeds do not have the attacking quality to play with only one striker up front. It was almost like Leeds were playing with 10.
If Leeds do enter the January window, it needs to be for a player with creativity. Hopes of a deal for Harry Wilson are over, but Leeds have been linked with players like Joshua Zirkzee and, today, Ruben Vargas.
Matty Cash says Piotr Zielinski is the best he’s ever played with
Another player linked with Leeds since the summer is Inter Milan star Piotr Zielinski. The Poland legend has struggled for game time at Inter this season, starting only four of Inter Milan’s 15 Serie A matches.
However, the game time has improved and Zielinski has started five of Inter’s six Champions League games. Reports have said that Zielinski was a ‘prime candidate’ to leave the club ahead of January.
Leeds might consider an ambitious loan move for the former Napoli star and certainly, he would be a top signing. That is if Matty Cash’s comments are anything to go by this week, heaping praise on Zielinski.
Talking to Kanal Sportowy, Cash said Zielinski is the best player he has ever played alongside – more than Robert Lewandowski and Jack Grealish: “Best player I’ve played with? Ziele is the best I’ve played with.
“I love Zielinski for sure. I’ve played with Grealish and Lewy, but Zielinski for me is naturally the best footballer I’ve played with,” Aston Villa’s Cash continued, having switched allegiance to Poland in 2021.
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“This summer, we spent everything we could. Unequivocally, we are maxing PSR out this season. If we had gone on to other targets [on deadline day], the consequences would have been seen in the current roster. More key players from last season would have had to go.”
Robbie Evans on Leeds United’s PSR position
What are the chances of Leeds landing Piotr Zielinski?
Leeds were touted with an ambitious move for Zielinski back in October. He was struggling to start games and was only used in the Champions League, with Hakan Calhanoglu and Henrikh Mkhitaryan preferred.
But since the reports and over the last six weeks or so, Zielinski’s game time has improved. Inter may still be tempted to let him go if a decent offer comes due to his enormous £140k-a-week wages at Inter.
However, as things stand, it looks as if Zielinski will be staying put and Leeds will have to look elsewhere. Leeds have also been rejected by Martin Baturina, but Vargas and Zirkzee are recently-linked options.
Farke’s side have also been suggested as suitors for Chelsea duo Tyrique George and Raheem Sterling ahead of the January window. Any suggestion of PSR being an issue is not going to stop Leeds.
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