Before the transfer window began, Daniel Farke and the Leeds United team had big plans. The squad will undergo a lot of changes ahead of next season.
According to The Athletic, one of the key things Leeds have in mind this summer is signing players with Premier League experience. It has been part of the reason why the likes of Sean Longstaff and Callum Wilson have been linked with moves to Elland Road.
England will not be the only country that Leeds shop in. This week, the White have launched big moves for Habib Diarra and Jaka Bijol.
QUIZ: Can you name the season these 10 Leeds United shirts are from?
Graham Smyth outlines Leeds United plan
Credit: Imago Images
When it comes to the recent targets, one would ask why Leeds are searching for these profiles outside England. Graham Smyth may have the answer to that. According to him, Diarra and Bijol tick a lot of boxes when it comes to physicality and Athleticism. Leeds want these kind of players for the Premier League:
“You look at the two players Leeds are targeting here: Diarra, he brings physicality in terms of powerful running and carrying the ball,” Smyth said on the Inside Elland Road podcast.
“It’s not physicality in terms of going shoulder-to-shoulder with players, winning duels and winning tackles – it’s more in terms of the intensity, the aerobic output, that side of things is what Diarra excels in,” Donnohue added.
Udinese star Jaka Bijol is also a specimen at the back.
“Same with Bijol, he’s 6ft 4in, vastly experienced, has played in Serie A the last couple of years, talk of Inter Milan wanting him over the past couple of seasons, he’s very physical but on top of that he does have a real tendency to play long balls and play accurate long passes as well.”
Does physicality matter in the Premier League?
Yes, it does. Games in the top flight are really intense. Football in England is end to end for 90 minutes. And at the top flight, when your team lacks a bit of intensity, you get punished. Especially at level where every club has a better suited squad to high intensity football.
Looking at the current Leeds United team, it looks like a lot of work needs to be done to get them ready for next season.
