Phil Hay has revealed that Marcelo Bielsa could deploy Raphinha in a number 10 role for Leeds United going forward.
Leeds picked up their first win of the Premier League season on Saturday by beating Watford 1-0 at Elland Road.
In attacking midfield, the Whites aren’t as creative as they could be and that may explain why Patrick Bamford – United’s top goalscorer last term – has only managed to find the net once from five Premier League games this season.
And Hay, who exclusively covers the Elland Road club, has revealed that Bielsa might convert the Brazilian livewire into a creative midfielder.
He wrote on The Athletic: “I’m told that they have been discussing the possibility of Raphinha as a 10 but it’s not something Bielsa wants to rush into without working on. I can see aspects of Raphinha which would suit 10 although a Bielsa 10 needs to do a lot of defensive work too.”
Not good
This could and probably should worry Leeds fans.
Not only is Raphinha an absolutely brilliant winger, but he’s been Bielsa’s best player this season by a distance.
Three goals in seven Premier League games illustrates his importance and there’s just no way that Leeds’ attack doesn’t suffer if the legendary Argentine coach begins tinkering.
Bielsa has converted players into attacking midfielders before in West Yorkshire, but the team usually benefitted because whatever player was moved centrally generally wasn’t doing the business anywhere else on the field.
Raphinha, however, is doing the business out wide for the Whites and tweaking his role seems very, very shortsighted by the Leeds boss, particularly when the former Rennes gem is the only reason as to why the team aren’t in the relegation zone at this moment in time.
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