Could Saiz exit hand Bielsa chance to unleash Leeds pair together?

Follow us on Google Discover

Samuel Saiz is reportedly on his way out of Leeds United in January, leaving a major void in Marcelo Bielsa’s side.

Despite struggling to find his best form this season, Samuel Saiz has definitely rocked the boat by looking for a way out of Leeds in January.

The Yorkshire Evening Post reports that the playmaker is unhappy in England and is all set to undergo a medical with Getafe ahead of an initial loan move that could be made permanent in the summer.

Unfortunately for Lewis Baker, he has been unable to fill the void that Saiz has left on the two occasions that he has started in the Championship.

Bielsa’s loyalty to his players would hint that Baker will get another chance while so many teammates are sidelined. But perhaps Saiz’s seemingly-imminent exit could help Bielsa solve a dilemma that his two strikers are threatening to give him.

Kemar Roofe has been sensational for much of the campaign, having scored 10 goals in the league. But Patrick Bamford is back fit and breathing down his neck after following his under-23 hat-trick last week with the winner against Bolton on Saturday.

Bamford looks to be raring to go, and it must be tempting to include him in the starting lineup. And perhaps the recent win at Sheffield United hints that Bielsa is now able to do that without upsetting Roofe.

At Bramall Lane, Roofe quickly dropped into a slightly deeper role while Pablo Hernandez seemed to push ahead of him as something of a false nine.

Roofe’s performance in that role was excellent. He provided plenty of energy as Leeds picked up a huge win in the promotion race in the Championship.

It is perhaps not of the question therefore, for Bielsa to consider using Roofe in a similar role with Bamford leading the line at some stage in the future whenever he feels that Leeds have the opportunity to have two strikers on the pitch.

Of course, keeping Saiz would have been the ideal scenario for Leeds given his quality. But perhaps the void he leaves opens an opportunity for Bielsa to get both Roofe and Bamford in the same starting lineup.

Based on their form when they have played this season, that could be a frightening prospect for the current league leaders.