Leeds United have moved quickly to address their midfield problems this summer. The Whites brought in Brenden Aaronson from Red Bull Salzburg just days after survival was confirmed, before Marc Roca then joined a few weeks later from Bayern Munich.
Kalvin Phillips’ move to Manchester City then saw them switch their attention towards Red Bull Leipzig’s Tyler Adams, with a deal now on the verge of completion. Like Phillips, Adams’ speciality lays in his ability to press and win the ball back from the opposition.
That, coupled with Roca’s quality in possession should mean that Leeds are more than able to fill the void left by their star man Phillips. So with that in mind, here is a look at three ways Leeds could look to line-up in the centre of the park.
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Defensive option – Adams, Forshaw, Roca
Leeds’ record against the big six last season was one of their biggest disappointments, losing all 12 games and conceding 47 goals in the process. Much of that stemmed to a lack of solidarity in midfield and so if Jesse Marsch was to take a more pragmatic approach in these games, this could be the trio he goes for.
4-3-3 isn’t necessarily one of Marsch’s preferred systems, but if this trio was to line-up alongside each other, it is difficult to see any other formation, unless he went to a back three. Here, Forshaw would be the man tasked with playing box-to-box, allowing both Adams and Roca sitting a little deeper.
Attacking option – Adams, Klich, Aaronson
A more attack-minded midfield would see the introduction of both Aaronson and Mateusz Klich. Though Aaronson has a superb engine that enables him to get up and down the field, his best work undoubtedly comes in the final.
Klich is also at his best when he has the freedom to be creative, with little one-touch lay-offs a strong part of his CV. This duo would be able to be at their attacking best with Adams providing the defensive cover in a single pivot.
Well balanced – Adams, Roca, Aaronson
But perhaps Leeds’ most well-balanced trio going into the new season is their three new signings. If Marsch was to go with a 4-2-3-1 – which he did on several occasions last season – Adams and Roca would compliment each other perfectly in the midfield two.
That would in turn allow Aaronson the freedom in the number 10 role to roam wherever he pleases, knowing he has the defensive security behind. On paper, it looks like Leeds have very much done their homework here.
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