Leeds United enjoyed a vast transfer overhaul last summer, with Jesse Marsch finally allowed to put his stamp on Marcelo Bielsa’s squad that he inherited.

The American did so in the form of seven new permanent deals, amounting to an outlay of approximately £90m.

The main area that he targeted for improvement was central midfield, looking to share the workload of the departing Kalvin Phillips by adding Tyler Adams and Marc Roca.

Whilst that pair have excelled at Elland Road, the Whites still seem to be lacking some added attacking impetus from midfield.

Instead of once again looking to solve that by investing in the transfer window, though, they could look to their youngsters, just as the American has done on numerous occasions already.

Joe Gelhardt, Crysencio Summerville and Sam Greenwood have all benefitted from Marsch's regime, and Lewis Bate could be the latest to break through once his loan spell at Oxford United ends.

The 20-year-old is currently enjoying his first full campaign of senior football, having signed from Chelsea in a £1.5m deal last year. To command such a fee at his tender age is indicative of his pedigree.

In just 12 appearances in League One, the on-loan sensation already boasts three assists from central midfield.

It is clear that Bate can become something of a maestro, with an ability to spray passes across the pitch in a manner which belies his fledgling years. This is exemplified in his 82% pass accuracy, which he combines with 1.2 key passes per game.

Bielsa supported this with a statement from 2021, saying of Bate: “He's a player that is constantly managing the ball and he doesn't lose it very often. And he's got a good sense of a pass, he can thread it through the needle.”

To earn a 6.96 average Sofascore rating for his first year in senior football is indicative of the 20-year-old's maturity and ability, and it could even draw comparisons with England’s World Cup hero Jude Bellingham.

The former Birmingham City star has exploded of late and had impressed at Qatar before the Three Lions' quarter-final defeat to France.

He was averaging a 7.34 rating, averaging 1.2 key passes per game and a 90% pass accuracy. This was also paired with 3.2 tackles per game (via Sofascore), with the 19-year-old having developed into the perfect all-round midfielder.

Bate still has some improving to do on that front, but his average of one successful tackle per game this season is still admirable.

However, should he keep improving and taking to senior football with such ease, he could soon become Leeds’ very own version of Bellingham.