In some ways, Leeds United and RB Leipzig could hardly be more different. One prides itself upon a rich history, the other was founded just 13 years ago. One is the epitome of a ‘community club’, the pride of West Yorkshire, the other, to some, is emblematic of the corporate, capitalist ways of the modern game.
In other words, Leeds United are a diamond of a footballing institution. RB Leipzig are merely ‘fool’s gold’. Look a little closer, however, Leeds and Leipzig do have a few things in common.
There is a reason why so many have swapped the Red Bull group for Elland Road in recent transfer windows; Maximilian Wober following in the footsteps of Rasmus Kristensen, Brendan Aaronson and Jesse Marsch himself. Both Leeds and Leipzig operate under the banner a unifying strategy and philosophy; one built around an aggressive, all-action, high-pressing style of football. To put it simply, Leeds keep returning to the Red Bull well because they know players schooled at Leizpig or sister-club Salzburg possess so many of the attributes Marsch, Victor Orta and co look out for; energy, industry, and a dogged determination.
USA captain Tyler Adams is making a huge impact at Leeds United
No one epitomises this more than Tyler Adams. The £20 million summer signing may lack Kalvin Phillips’ finesse or Mateusz Klich’s eye for goal. But, when it comes to snatching back possession, hassling, harrying and haranguing the opposition into submission, there’s few better in English football right now.
A case in point; only Fulham’s Joao Palhinha averages more successful tackles per game (4.2, WhoScored) than Adams. Manchester United maestro Casemiro, in contrast, averages 3.1. Brighton’s Moises Caicedo, 2.9. If you were to rank Orta’s most inspired signings as Leeds’ director of football, Adams would surely sit somewhere near the very top.
“You look at our captain. He’s 23 years old. The youngest captain in the World Cup,” USA legend DaMarcus Beasley told talkSPORT of Adams, the New York-born battleaxe following up colossal displays in victories over Liverpool and Chelsea at the Qatar World Cup.
“He’s huge! Phenomenal.”
Reports suggesting that Adams has already caught the eye of Champions League clubs will come as no surprise to regular watchers of Marsch’s Leeds United. Top-class defensive midfielders are hardly ten-a-penny, after all. And everyone wants their own N’Golo Kante or Casemiro these days.
Sport Italia’s claims that Leeds are keeping tabs on Salernitana enforcer Lassana Coulibaly, then, may potentially be the first suggestions of a contingency plan. Leeds are not naïve. They know from experience that players as talented and effective as Adams do not go unnoticed for long, and those Coulibaly links may be a sign that Leeds are covering themselves in case of a worst-case scenario.
Is Lassana Coulibaly Leeds’ next Tyler Adams?
Coulibaly, capped 31 times by Mali, might not have a PHD in high-pressing from the Red Bull school of hard-knocks but he certainly possesses many of the attributes Leeds look for in a deep-lying midfielder. Roma’s Bryan Cristante is the only midfielder in Serie A who averages more tackles per game than Coulibaly’s 3.1. An 85 per cent pass completion rate (higher than Adams’ 83 per cent, WhoScored) also paints the picture of a footballer as effective with the ball as he is without it.
“Coulibaly is a destroyer,” former Ibrox boss Steven Gerrard said of the 26-year-old during his loan spell at Rangers a few seasons back. “He breaks play up and keeps it simple. He’ll add a bit of power in the engine room for us.
“(Coulibaly is) a machine, that enforcer in the middle of the park (STV). He enjoys getting after people, biting into tackles and doing the ugly side of the game. He loves it.”
Coulibaly and Leeds, then, look a match made in footballing heaven. Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper showed an interest in taking the £8.5 million-rated former Angers man to the City Ground recently but, having brought in Danilo from Palmeiras instead, the door is now wide open for Leeds to step up their interest if they so wish (The Sun). One major obstacle removed from Marsch and Orta’s path.
Regardless of whether they see Coulibaly as a potential Adams replacement, or someone capable of joining him in Marsch’s team and turning Leeds’ engine into a thundering V8, the Malian ‘machine’ is as well-suited to life at Elland Road as any of the club’s Red Bull imports.
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