Leeds United are eyeing a move for Hoffenheim's versatile star Florian Grillitsch, and that could spell bad news for Robin Koch at Elland Road...
What's the story?
Reports in recent days have claimed that Jesse Marsch's side have joined fellow Premier League sides Arsenal and Newcastle in the race to sign the Austria international this summer.
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It's been suggested that the midfielder's representatives have sounded out a move abroad amid his contract at Hoffenheim expiring this summer.
Marsch can axe Koch
Reports earlier last year claimed that former Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa actually thought the versatile defender was "too soft" to really succeed at Premier League level, and when you look at how he has fared in general, it's perhaps understandable to see why.
The German had a injury-hit debut campaign at Elland Road last season, playing just 17 times in the Premier League and missing a number of games with a knee problem between December and March.
And, when he has played, he has shown signs of really struggling to get to grips with the pace and intensity of the English game - you only have to look at his performance against Spurs recently to see that.
Writing in his post-match player ratings against Spurs, Leeds Live's Beren Cross gave him a four, saying: "No protection for the defence or any presence in the middle of the park as Adam Forshaw was left isolated and alone."
The £50k-a-week earning ace just isn't a natural fit when deployed in midfield, while at centre-back, he already has a significant amount of competition to battle against with the recently returned Liam Cooper, Diego Llorente and Pascal Struijk all ahead of him in the pecking order.
But in Grillitsch, they could find someone who is equally comfortable of playing in the middle of the park, and also being trusted with playing at the back too - in the 18 games he has played in the Bundesliga this season, 12 of them have come in central defence, while the rest have seen him used as either a holding midfielder or in a more box-to-box role.
Indeed, Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann raved about the kind of under-rated nature of the Austrian ace, saying: "In my opinion, Flo Grillitsch is one of the best six in the Bundesliga who is already a little under the radar. At least you rarely read anything about him.
"He still has a few construction sites, he knows that, I've told him that often enough. But he is an extraordinary footballer and has an incredible ability to determine the rhythm of the game."
The 6 foot 2 Grillitsch could be a superb addition to this Leeds side, and could see Marsch finally axe one of his side's poorer players.
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