Tony Dorigo believes Leeds United must now sign a replacement for Mateusz Klich. He also feels Juventus ace Weston McKennie will fit the mould of a transfer target of Jesse Marsch.
The Whites are scouring the market for potential new midfielders after Marsch let Klich go to DC United. He moved to the MLS franchise after Leeds agreed to release the Poland star from his contract at Elland Road. But Dorigo feels his departure leaves his old team short.
Leeds agree, too, as Fabrizio Romano reports Marsch is exploring a transfer from Juventus for McKennie. Club chiefs in West Yorkshire also admire Angers SCO star Azzedine Ounahi. While Media Foot has listed RC Lens captain Seko Fofana as another option for the Whites.
Marsch currently only has Tyler Adams and Marc Roca to call on at Leeds as natural deep-lying options in midfield. Adam Forshaw is also at Elland Road but has only featured in five Premier League games this season. He has suffered with another injury-hit season, as well.
Brenden Aaronson, meanwhile, can occupy centralised areas in an attacking position. But he is better suited to playing in off the wing. Yet other than Adams, Roca and Forshaw, he is one of the few natural players Marsch can use centrally after letting Klich move to America.
Dorigo tells Leeds to replace Klich as Marsch eyes McKennie’s transfer
Dorigo also feels Klich’s departure from Elland Road has cost Marsch a valuable midfielder at Leeds from his experience. The 32-year-old arrived in West Yorkshire from FC Twente in 2017 and – around a loan move to FC Utrecht – played in 195 matches in all competitions.
Now, Dorigo sees McKennie, Ounahi and Fofana as potential transfer targets who would fit Marsch’s ideal mould for Leeds. But it is important that whoever the American coach does sign wants to play at Elland Road and is available at a price the Whites can afford to spend.
“Klichy going was a bit of a surprise,” he told the Yorkshire Evening Post. “Get someone in to replace him and you’d say it would be hugely successful.
“McKennie has been mentioned, Azzedine Ounahi, Seko Fofana at Lens, who used to be at Udinese, they’re all in a mould. They have lots of energy and go box-to-box.
“So, you can see what the club are trying to do and rightly so because we’ve lost the experience of Klichy. Replacing him is vital – let’s see how they get on. These players need to be available and all at the right price. And then they need to want to come to Leeds.”
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