Marcelo Bielsa rarely likes to veer away from his favourite starting XI.
Indeed, there are six Leeds players that have started every single game for the Whites this season, but that tally would almost certainly be seven if it weren’t for Kalvin Phillips picking up a suspension a few weeks back.
Therein lies the problem with Bielsa’s reluctance to rotate as with the midfielder out of the side, they had no one to really replace him.
It would seem that Leeds need a bit of a contingency plan for when Phillips isn’t available, and luckily a solution may be on its way.
Indeed, United are reportedly looking to sign Reading midfielder Andy Rinomhota, and he could be the man to provide Leeds with the depth they seemingly need in that holding midfield spot.
But would the 22-year-old be a good signing? We asked our team of writers to give their verdicts.
Matt Dawson
“I sense that by signing Andy Rinomhota, Leeds could be planning for Kalvin Phillips’ successor. The midfielder has been magnificent this term, winning 3.6 tackles per game but he was regularly the subject of interest from Premier League clubs last summer. A failure to go up and he could be on his merry way out of Elland Road alongside Marcelo Bielsa, especially with Manchester United previously sniffing around.
“The 24-year-old is too good for the Championship and the very fact he’s been touted for a place in the England squad says it all. Even if Leeds do go up, it wouldn’t be beyond the realms of possibility that Phillips leaves anyway. The Whites currently lack depth in a holding midfield role so the addition of Rinomhota makes perfect sense. His stats may not be up there with Leeds’ current star, but there is certainly room to grow.
“Aged 22, the Reading man keeps things ticking over with a pass success rate of 83%, as well as completing 2.2 tackles each game. This would be a smart signing in terms of their squad depth.”
James Beavis
“While Reading have been languishing towards the bottom of the Championship for much of the season, Andy Rinomhota has been a real shining light in the middle of the park.
“Leeds United’s lack of depth in the defensive midfield area was shown when centre-back Ben White was asked to fill in there against Huddersfield Town, and it is clear that another option is needed there and that Victor Orta needs to come up with something for Marcelo Bielsa.
“The 22-year-old is Leeds-born and is clearly at an age where he has a big ceiling to improve, and he seems to have all of the tools to provide some strong competition for Kalvin Phillips in terms of shielding the Yorkshire outfit’s back four.
“The fact he has averaged 2.2 interceptions per Championship appearance in 2019/20 shows his ability in terms of breaking up the play, while his 0.9 dribbles shows he can bring the ball forward out of midfield too.
“Getting this done would be a shrewd move by Orta.”
Kealan Hughes
“Andy Rinomhota has been in great form for Reading this season but there are questions over whether he’d be able to deliver the same at Leeds, where there is a great deal more pressure.
“Leeds also look destined for the Premier League so Marcelo Bielsa would have to consider whether he’d be effective in a higher division, too, and that may be unlikely given his youth and lack of experience of playing at the highest level.
“He has been effective in defence with 2.2 tackles per game but his passing would need to improve to challenge Kalvin Phillips’ place in the team, managing just 83% pass accuracy this term.
“While he would be an effective back-up option Leeds need players who could strengthen the starting eleven, and with that in mind the Reading man is one to avoid.”
Charles Jones
“I think that bringing in Andy Rinomhota would be a great move by Leeds.
“The midfielder may not be a starter when he arrives at Elland Road, but he’d provide depth in a position that Leeds are lacking a little bit.
“The Yorkshire outfit were caught short in the middle of the park when Kalvin Phillips was suspended against Huddersfield last weekend, and it was obvious that they needed somebody else of his ilk to be able to step in when needed, and that’s what Rinomhota would provide.
“Is he a game-changer? No, probably not, but it’d be a good bit of business nonetheless.”
In other news, Leeds have been chasing a striker from Belgium who is outscoring Kemar Roofe.
