Leeds could have a busy transfer window coming up with the potential for new faces, and Noel Whelan believes Liverpool’s Rhian Brewster could be one such addition.
What did he say?
Leeds Director of Football Victor Orta spoke previously about the January window and hinted that it may be a quiet time in terms of deals, but the doubt surrounding Eddie Nketiah’s future means the Whites may have to be proactive.
Brewster has arrived on the radar according to Football Insider, but there is considerable interest in the forward – including from the Premier League.
That, combined with the lack of game time given to Nketiah, means Leeds could face a difficult task to lure him to Elland Road, but Whelan argues there is one factor which should appeal to both the club and the player.
Speaking to Football Insider, he said:
“A huge thing in Leeds’ favour is that Marcelo Bielsa is a great coach and Leeds play in a similar way to Liverpool – build out from the back, press from the front, high energy, smooth passing combinations and an aggressive playing style.
“That’s how Leeds signed Jack Harrison from Man City. Jurgen Klopp will be aware of that, and how Harrison has developed under Bielsa.
“Klopp will be keen for Brewster to join Leeds and learn under Bielsa. It’s probably in Klopp’s mind to send him to a team that play a similar style of football to Liverpool, and that’s where Leeds will fit the bill.”
Avoiding risk
Brewster is a player with a lot of potential and is clearly highly thought of by the Reds, with Jurgen Klopp describing him as a “top talent” in the summer.
He has seen his involvement in the first-team increase this season and because opportunities could dry up a little in the second half of the year with Liverpool no longer competing in the Carabao Cup, they could be keen for him to get minutes elsewhere.
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So despite what Whelan says, a switch to Leeds is perhaps a little unlikely.
Bielsa is probably an appealing factor. The Argentine improves young players and has a wealth of football knowledge that would be great for Brewster to learn from, but the priority for Liverpool should be ensuring that he receives adequate game time.
In the Leeds team that could be difficult because of the system of only playing one striker, and Patrick Bamford is a firm favourite of Bielsa’s having started in every league game so far.
He is an important cog in the style Bielsa has implemented, and that means Brewster would likely suffer the same fate as Nketiah, who Arsenal may recall due to a lack of game-time.
That could be an off-putting factor for Brewster’s parent club.
Find out more about the details surrounding the possible move for Brewster by reading our Transfer Focus piece on the 19-year-old.
