Could Mateusz Klich return to Leeds United and usurp Eunan O’Kane this summer?
Only a few short weeks ago it seemed that Mateusz Klich’s Leeds United career was doomed. The Polish midfielder was sent to Utretcht on a half-season loan after struggling for regular football under Thomas Christiansen.
In addition to that, Leeds spent £4.5 million on Adam Forshaw who represented another obstacle between Klich and first-team football.
But Christiansen has since been sacked and the performance of Eunan O’Kane in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Sheffield United suggests that there might be a glimmer of hope for the 27-year-old.
Paul Heckingbottom has taken over from the Denmark-born Spaniard and Klich will have the chance to impress him in the summer, after the player revealed his expectation of returning to Elland Road when the season finishes.
Heckingbottom still has plenty of options in midfield, but O’Kane – who conceded the penalty which led to Leeds’ defeat this past weekend – might not be one of them beyond this season unless he improves in a big way.
No Leeds player has had a stellar 2018 so far, but the Northern Irishman has already served a three-match ban and the general decline in his performances is hardly a strong case to survive what could and should be a big clearout of personnel this summer.
You have to imagine that O’Kane – signed by Garry Monk – is at risk of being given the chop by Director of Football Victor Orta if he doesn’t turn things around and it’ll be interesting to see if that leads to Klich being given a second wind in West Yorkshire.
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