Should Leeds United renew an interest in the 19-year-old?
Goal.com reported in August that Leeds United were interested in signing Arsenal’s Krystian Bielik. That move never materialised but, by virtue of the fact that the talented teenager did not leave on loan and is yet to kick a ball for Arsenal this season, should Leeds renew an interest?
The 19-year-old, a £2 million signing from Legia Warsaw in 2015, is considered one of the Gunners’ most exciting prospects and the fact that Arsene Wenger kept hold of him in the summer prompted suggestions of a promotion to the senior squad.
However, the Polish talent has been missing since September with a shoulder injury which has scuppered his chances of impressing in the Londoners’ two League Cup games so far. But Bielik is due back in training this month and he could do with another loan spell in January.
United’s Director of Football Victor Orta signed a host of highly-rated, multi-functional players during the summer and Bielik would fit the bill in both regards – and he has proven himself a very capable Championship player after a brilliant loan spell with Birmingham in the second half of last season.
The youngster played at centre-back under Gianfranco Zola, showing a maturity which belied his years, but he arrived at Arsenal as a defensive midfielder and such versatility should be attractive for the Whites.
Leeds are flying at the moment, having just picked up a third win in four Championship games in the 3-1 win at QPR, but it’s no secret that their midfield has looked lightweight at times this season and a physical presence like Bielik, at 6’2, is surely something that Thomas Christiansen doesn’t really have.
As a 17-year-old, Bielik was arguably Arsenal’s best player in the 3-0 League Cup defeat to a Sheffield Wednesday side who reached the playoff final that year, and holding his own against the Owls on that occasion is a hugely encouraging sign that he can be a serious midfielder in this league.
Leeds might well have concerns with the fact that injury has sidelined him for the entire season, but he is expected back this month and it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if Orta did take another look in January.
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