Marc Roca's arrival at Elland Road on Friday made him Victor Orta's third signing of what looks to be a busy summer for the Spaniard. Roca joined Brenden Aaronson and Rasmus Kristensen, who both joined Leeds from RB Salzbug earlier in June.
All of the signings become official on the 1st of July, but Leeds' director of football is still expected to do more business, with a reported bid for PSG's Arnaud Kalimuendo being submitted last week. A back up goalkeeper is also under consideration, whilst Orta will also have to move to replace Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha if they are to leave the club, as seems most likely.
As it stands, the starting XI on the first day of the season against Wolves could be significantly different to the one which ended 21/22, with some of the regulars of the last few seasons looking likely to be replaced. There may well be more players whose places in the team will be under threat with further incomings but with the three signings already brought in, here are the players who will likely face reduced playing time next season:
Read more: PSG 'make formal approach' for Leeds United ace Kalvin Phillips
Rodrigo
The Spaniard is the Whites' record signing, but there is a sense that he has never quite fitted in under Marcelo Bielsa or Jesse Marsch. He did seem to improve in the early period of Marsch's tenure, with some important goal and assist contributions. However, his level dropped alarmingly as the season went on.
Aaronson's arrival now puts his place under threat as the American attacking midfielder is more comfortable in the Marsch's system, having played in it at Salzburg. Additionally, Joe Gelhardt's performances late in the season suggest he will play far more often in 22/23, whilst the prospective arrival of Kalimuendo would further limit Rodrigo's possibilities of playing as a striker, even in a front two, as Patrick Bamford, Gelhardt and Kalimuendo could all play in those roles.
Mateusz Klich
There was once a time when Klich seemed undroppable, as Bielsa relied on him to start all but one game in the two years the Argentine managed the club in the Championship. That one game that the Pole missed being the away match against Derby, a day after Leeds won the title thanks to Brentford's loss to Stoke City, with Klich partying too hard to be included in the team.
However, in the Premier League he found himself on the bench more often and once Marsch took over, 20-year-olds Lewis Bate and Sam Greenwood were both given starts ahead of him as the season neared its climax. The addition of Roca to Marsch's midfield options is only going to make it more difficult for Klich to get starts and could perhaps see him look to leave later in the window.
Adam Forshaw
Like Klich, Forshaw's place is under threat after Roca's arrival. However, Forshaw played the majority of the games he was fit for last season and after his injury troubles in recent years, may feel more comfortable with the idea of being the first option behind Leeds' latest midfield signing. His defensive instincts could also see him preferred as the first option to back up the other midfield slot as well, which will be taken by Phillips or whoever Orta identifies to replace him.
Luke Ayling
Finally, Leeds' vice captain, Luke Ayling will certainly miss the start of next season after undergoing surgery recently, but his long term place in the team is heavily under threat by new signing, Kristensen. The former Salzburg man is a full Danish international at right-back and is fully up to speed in terms of the direction Marsch would like to take the team tactically. With that being the case, it seem like Ayling will struggle to return to the starting XI, even when he regains his fitness.
This also raises questions over the future of Cody Drameh. The young right back left the club on loan in January, starring for Cardiff City in the Championship and he may impress Marsch enough in pre-season to push ahead of Ayling in the pecking order. However, should he not, he may move on loan once again.
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