Junior Firpo’s injury has come as a blow for Leeds United. He sustained a hamstring problem in Leeds’ 2-0 win over Derby County and will be out of action for the next month. Max Wober has come in to replace him at left-back and started against Middlesbrough at Elland Road this week. However, the Whites have a bigger issue to sort out regarding Firpo’s future as he will be out of contract at the end of the season.
Firpo came under pressure due to his performances in the season when Leeds got relegated from the Premier League and he was picked out as one of the players who looked out of place in the top flight.
However, the former Barcelona man has fought his way back over the last 18 months and reestablished himself as the first-choice left-back at Leeds when he is fit and available to play.
There is now a real chance he will leave Leeds in the summer, especially if the Whites fail to get promoted to the Premier League for the second season running.
He could still leave on a free transfer even if Leeds get promoted but the Whites must do everything to ensure that they hold on to him and tie the Dominical down to a new contract.
Junior Firpo adds attacking flair from left-back
Firpo is a modern left-back who is not only valued for his defensive ability but also for what he brings to the attack with his ability on the ball.
The Dominican has only scored one goal and has registered three assists in 15 appearances in the Championship this season. However, one needs to go deeper to understand his impact on the team.
If we analyse the data on Firpo on WhoScored, it is clear to see the impact he has on the Leeds attack with his incisive passing. He averages 1.4 key passes per game and has been integral to creating chances for other players.
In the final third, he rarely gets dispossessed, which is a top-notch attribute to have for a player who attempts to break open defences with his short passing. Firpo, on average, has lost possession less than once and manages to win close to two duels in each game in attack this season.
However, his impressive attacking numbers do not mask his defensive contribution at left-back. He has been solid at the back and the numbers back it up as well.
Firpo averages 2.5 successful tackles per game and gets dribbled past less than once. His reading of the game also serves Leeds well with 1.3 interceptions per game.
However, there is one area of his game that he needs to work on, and something that was exposed in the Premier League, is his inability to block crosses as an average of 0.2 blocked crosses is poor and puts pressure on the rest of the defence.
But he does enough in both attack and defence to suggest replacing Firpo would be a challenge for Leeds if he leaves the club on a free transfer in the summer.
But can he cut it in the Premier League if Leeds United earn promotion?
Firpo was one of the disappointments when Leeds United were in the Premier League. He was brought in from Barcelona to add top-tier experience to the Whites squad but he flattered to deceive.
His attacking qualities failed to shine as Leeds were one of the weaker teams of the division and had to defend more against far superior opponents and that is where his defensive deficiencies were highlighted.
Firpo’s inability to block cross and his defensive lapses cost Leeds dearly in several games and he eventually lost his place in the team as the team slid towards relegation.
Leeds are fighting for promotion again this season and the Dominican is only likely to sign a new deal if they get back to the Premier League. However, the question marks over his top-level ability will remain.
If Leeds get promoted and Firpo stays, it would be up to the player to show that he learned from his struggles in the top flight earlier and is a much-improved player now.
