Leeds United should rival Coventry City and Stoke City for midfielder: View
Leeds United lack depth and quality in the ‘number eight’ position following the departures of Glen Kamara and Archie Gray, but the Whites should look to beat Coventry City and Stoke City to the punch with Alvyn Sanches.
Kamara leaves with big boots to fill. There is no doubt that he will be a loss from the squad after he started 33 of the 37 league games he featured in, which meant that he played more minutes in the heart of Leeds’ midfield than any other player in the squad.
Not only that, but his performances were crucial in a number of big games last year, including the semi-final of the play-offs against Norwich City and the 3-1 victory over Leicester City in February. However, a 28-year-old being sold for serious profit is hard to deny as good business for Leeds, despite how crucial the Finn was at times last year for Farke and co.
His press-resistance, composure, and ball retention were all key features of his game, whilst his durability and duel-winning allowed Leeds to pin the opposition in their half at times, even if his ball-striking and general output in goal and assist terms left much to be desired.
Gray, meanwhile, is a generational midfield talent lost. He played the majority of his football at right-back last season, but his long-term future was as an ‘eight’, and Leeds need to replace him with more than just Joe Rothwell.
Leeds secured the loan signing of Rothwell from AFC Bournemouth last week. The 29-year-old loanee will bring more goals to Farke’s team from the middle of the park, but another player in the box-to-box role with serious output could help make Leeds an even more impressive team from midfield next year.
