Leeds United midfielder Mateusz Klich is heading for a departure from Elland Road this January.

What's the talk?

That's according to a report by TEAMtalk, who claim that Jesse Marsch's side are facing an uphill battle to retain the services of the central midfielder in the winter transfer window, with the 32-year-old believed to be eager to secure an exit from the Whites in January.

The report goes on to state that, while Marsch is eager to keep hold of the Poland international for at least the remainder of the season, with interest in the former FC Twente star from clubs in France, Italy and Germany, it would appear unlikely Klich will be in LS11 come February.

Blessing in disguise

While it is true that Klich is an extremely popular member of the Whites first team squad, as well as being a useful squad player for Marsch to be able to call upon, considering just how rapidly the 32-year-old appears to have fallen off this season, the Pole's departure may actually be good news for Leeds.

Indeed, over his 11 Premier League appearances - none of which have come as starts - in 2022/23, the £4.3m-rated talent has failed to impress, scoring no goals, registering no assists and creating no big chances, as well as making an average of just 7.4 passes, no interceptions, 0.1 clearances and losing the majority of his duels per game.

These returns have seen the £34k-per-week midfielder who Joe Wainman dubbed "lacklustre" average an extremely disappointing SofaScore match rating of a mere 6.55, currently ranking him as Marsch's joint fifth-worst performer in the top flight of English football.

Furthermore, with youngsters such as Darko Gyabi and Sam Greenwood currently breaking into the Leeds first-team, both of whom have impressed when given opportunities this season, the removal of a blockage in the duo's path to senior football could well see both prospects handed significantly more game time in the second half of the campaign.

As such, while waving goodbye to a player as popular as Klich in January may be a sad day in the lives of many a Leeds supporter, considering his extremely poor returns this season, coupled with the emergence of two natural successors to the Poland international, the departure of the 32-year-old could well be a blessing in disguise for the Whites.