It’s been a busy start to the summer window at Leeds United with two first-team signings through the door and plenty of speculation over further additions. Brendan Aaronson joined the Whites for around £25million not long after Premier League safety was secured, while Rasmus Kristensen following in a £10millioj move on Wednesday.
With these two signings in the books, sights must now be set on securing the club’s two most vulnerable positions: central midfield and striker. The Whites were devastatingly short in midfield last season after Kalvin Phillips’ hamstring injury kept him out for the majority of the campaign - and it could have been much worse were it not for the surprisingly effective comeback of Adam Forshaw.
Stuart Dallas will be unavailable for a good chunk of the season after fracturing his femur against Manchester City, while Mateusz Klich and Forshaw slip further past their peak. Robin Koch has performed well defensively in the role but lacks the 360-degree vision to receive the ball in midfield.
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Furthermore, Phillips’ status as a Leeds United player is up in the air amid interest from Manchester City and Liverpool. Leeds are desperate not to tell their lynchpin and 26-year-old will not force a move, but should the right offer come in with the allure of Champions League football then it could be tough to refuse.
It makes finding a central midfielder - or two, or three - an absolute priority. There have predictably been constant links to midfield talent, but some speculation does have substance, and LeedsLive have picked out three midfielders linked to a summer move.
Marc Roca
The Whites were first linked with a move for Marc Roca earlier this week, and reports of a £10 million deal have picked up pace in the last few days as the club look to add a little Spanish class to their midfield.
The 25-year-old was hugely impressive at Espanyol before moving to German champions Bayern Munich, but he has failed to make an impact and earn a consistent place in the starting XI - understandable, given he is competing with Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka.
A classic Spanish midfielder, Roca is comfortable in tight spaces and a silky distributor of the ball but maybe lacks the athleticism needed for the Premier League, especially in a Jesse Marsch side. His lack of first-team football is also a concern, given he has managed just 24 appearances in his two seasons in Bavaria.
The signing would be resemblant of a Junior Firpo-type risk, taking on a player whose outstanding performances at an average club earned a big-money move that hasn't quite paid off. But Victor Orta seems willing to take that risk again, and as things stand, a move for the Spaniard could be likely.
Lewis O’Brien
In retrospect, this signing should have happened last season, and the links between the club and Huddersfield Town midfielder Lewis O’Brien have resurfaced again after his side lost in the playoff final.
The 23-year-old was a vital cog in Carlos Corberan’s third-placed Terriers last season, scoring three goals in 46 Championship games.
The Whites are one of several Premier League clubs - including Southampton and Crystal Palace - eyeing the £12 million midfielder and have been heavily tipped to do so, but interest now appears to be cooling, as per our sister site, Yorkshire Live.
Other targets now appear to be the priority.
Florian Grillitsch
Austrian midfielder Florian Grillitsch has been a well-reported target for the Whites after his contract with Hoffenheim is set to end this year, making him a free agent.
The 26-year-old played 18 times in the Bundesliga as his side finished ninth - he also featured seven times during the 2020/2021 Europa League, scoring twice, and has 33 caps for Austria.
Grillitsch could be an ideal partner for Phillips in midfield, adding energy and experience. At 6ft 2in, he provides a physical, ball-winning presence but is also considered in possession.
But Fabrizio Romano has now suggested that the midfielder is on his way to Fiorentina, quashing rumours of what would have been a solid midfield option.
