A claim has emerged on Leeds United's interest in Lewis O'Brien heading into the summer transfer window...
What's the talk?
Daily Express journalist Ryan Taylor has claimed that the Huddersfield man will still be a target for the club despite Marcelo Bielsa's exit from Elland Road earlier this year.
He told GIVEMESPORT:
“I think he (O'Brien) will still be a player of interest to Leeds because Brenden Aaronson wasn’t anything to do with Jesse Marsch, that was a signing that Bielsa was keen for, given his running stats.
“I think in the Champions League this season, no player ran more than Aaronson, which obviously with his Murderball football, it was key for that. So, it’s clear the targets have sort of come in from upstairs, and Victor Orta has a clear strategy.”
Supporters will be delighted
Supporters will be delighted with this claim for multiple reasons.
Firstly, it shows that there is a clear style in place at the club and they are not looking to change that any time soon. Having this structure above the head coach means that it is not a complete disaster when someone like Bielsa ends up moving on.
Leeds were not going to go out and bring in a manager who wanted to play defensive, park the bus, football who would have wanted a completely different style of player in the window. This allows for continuity within the playing squad in the long-term irrespective of the man in the dugout as they have an identity that they want to stick to.
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Fans will also be buzzing with this news because O'Brien has the potential to be an excellent addition to Marsch's squad next season.
The central midfielder enjoyed a terrific campaign in the Championship with Huddersfield as they missed out on promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs.
O'Brien averaged a superb SofaScore rating of 7.00 across 43 games in the second tier as he showcased his ability to perform to a high level on a consistent basis.
He caught the eye with his energetic displays as he won a whopping 7.5 duels and made 3.0 tackles and interceptions per game. Along with his excellent work off the ball, he chipped in with three goals and three assists to prove that he can also make an impact in the final third.
These statistics suggest that he has the potential to make the step up to the Premier League as he has proven his quality in the Championship. Therefore, fans will be delighted by the club's efforts to bring him to Elland Road this summer.
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