Pablo Hernandez is a Leeds United legend. The Spaniard has won three Player of the Season awards on the trot and without him, they may not be where they are today.
Together with Marcelo Bielsa, he has helped transform Leeds from a mid-table Championship outfit to a mid-table Premier League team.
It’s been quite the few years for not only the football club, but the dynamic duo too. Hernandez has been the heartbeat of this United team for a considerable period of time but we are now witnessing a changing of the guard.
Hernandez has only started two Premier League games all season with Rodrigo usurping him and most recently, Tyler Roberts earning minutes in the number 10 role.
The Welshman has caught the eye too, winning the Man of the Match award against Chelsea on Saturday after having a goal ruled out for offside. He also found the net against West Ham, only for it to be disallowed too.
At the moment, it feels like the Welshman can do anything but add to his goal tally. His minutes could be increased further next season as well.
That’s because Hernandez has been linked with a move to Spanish shores. The veteran was touted with a switch to Castellon in the winter window and it’s thought his boyhood club will revive their interest in the summer.
That being said, it’s not Roberts who is the creative midfielder’s most natural heir. Instead, that honour should go to the highly-rated Mateusz Bogusz.
The Polish teenager has been one to watch at Elland Road for a while now and was once tipped to light up Yorkshire alongside Hernandez by a certain Phil Hay.
Though, with the Spaniard potentially walking through the exit door, Bogusz may be asked to stand alone as Leeds’ prime creator.
Described as a “great talent” by his manager at international youth level, Czeslaw Michniewicz, he possesses a whole host of qualities that can make you stand to attention.
First and foremost, he has an eye for goal. The 19-year-old scored five goals in 33 outings for Ruch Chorzow before he’d even joined Leeds at the age of 17. Secondly, he has immense creativity.
The Poland youth product has managed 0.8 key passes a match this term in the Spanish second tier for UD Logrones. For context, that’s more than both Tyler Roberts and Hernandez has managed.
His most eye-catching statistic is undoubtedly in the dribbling category. Bogusz has amassed 1.3 successful dribbles per game this season, a tally only bettered by Raphinha in the Leeds squad.
With a space potentially opening up in Leeds’ midfield next season, Bielsa should certainly consider unleashing him. After all, he has similar qualities to the great Hernandez. He could just be the replacement they’re looking for.