The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Thursday 6th April) Leeds keeping tabs on Real Madrid striker
Good Morning. It's Thursday 6th April, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...
Leeds keeping tabs on Real Madrid striker
Spanish media outlet 'Fichajes.net' are reporting that Leeds are one of several clubs keeping close tabs on Real Madrid forward Mariano Diaz, and may may West Yorkshire's finest should Bamford leave in the Summer. The 29yo has spent much of his career at the Bernabéu Stadium, albeit representing their 'B' and 'C' team. He joined Lyon in 2017, after agreeing an €8m move, only for Real to buy him back again for three times the amount twelve months later.
Since return to Spain in 2018, Diaz has netted six times in 49 games. His five year deal comes to an end at the end of the season, after which he'll be a free agent. West Ham and Nice are also reportedly interested in the Dominican Republic International (one cap).
"Another Premier League club looking to add powder to their attack is Leeds United. They have Rodrigo and Bamford, but the latter has many proposals to change the air and go to a club with more sporting aspirations. If he finally leaves, the English will make a proposal to Mariano, who would arrive with the letter of freedom."
Leeds are less predictable and more adaptable under Gracia
Elland Road journalist Phil Hay has penned an interesting article in the Athletic this morning, suggesting much of Javi Gracia's early success is down to adapting tactical changes each game, depending on the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition; something his predecessors refused to do!
Bielsa build an exciting Leeds side to dominate possession at all cost, press deep and operate a man to man marking scheme. Under the Argentine's tenure, the ER faithful were treated to some of the finest football, the club has ever seen. Unfortunately, when Leeds weaknesses were exposed, his refusal to deviate, ultimately cost him his job.
Much of Marsch's undoings, were down to his narrow 4-2-2-2 formation. In many ways, his stubbornness to change tact, especially when it obviously wasn't working, ultimately cost him his post. One unnamed player in the Leeds ranks has even commented that the players feel that the tactical changes Gracia has made, are 'more realistic' than Marsch's 'fixed style'
Gracia, on the evidence, is far more willing to cut his cloth, to give up the ball on certain days, to go after it on others like Tuesday night, to attack in moments, to retreat when he has to, to deal with what is in front of him. Leeds swung from 33 per cent possession at Arsenal to 63 per cent against Forest and not by chance.
Overnight, they have become less predictable and the adaptability has gone down well with the players. One said the squad saw Gracia’s approach as “more realistic” than Jesse Marsch’s in accepting that a fixed style was not necessarily a virtue, particularly if it wasn’t working. Under Gracia, individuals have improved quickly. The performances show trust in his ideas. As starts go, it has gone well.
The irony of Marsch, in painting him as a suitable transition from Bielsa, is that he was as fixed on one specific style as the Argentinian. The pressing, the counter-pressing, the system without width, the high line: it was the shield Marsch came in on and the one he went out on. But Gracia, the pragmatist, feels more like a natural step forward from the Bielsa era, by no means an identical coach and in no way certain to deliver the same things but a smoother gear change that rocks the boat less.
It is the type of safer bet that, on reflection, Leeds should have taken the first time around. Bielsa was a one-off, unique in a way few managers can mimic. It was tempting to think that one sensation could inspire another but really, an out-there appointment was hubris and inviting trouble. Gracia seems normal and effective and Elland Road, in its reaction to him, is appreciating the normality. Sometimes normality is no bad thing.
Llorente wants to stay at Roma
Italian media outlet 'CalcioMercato' claim that Leeds Utd centre back Diego Llorente is desperate to stay at Roma beyond his loan spell. The 29yo joined the 'Giallorossi' during the January transfer window, but has been limited to just four appearances thus far. He put in an impressive display for Jose Mourinho's side last weekend in a 3-0 win over Sampdoria last weekend, but will need to continue to back that up, if they are to exercise their right to trigger his £15.8m release clause.
A recent article suggests that Llorente's valuation is around £13m, which in all honesty,would still be too good to turn down, should Roma decide to negotiate.