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da aposte e ganhe： This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
For one reason or another, Leeds’ transfer business in the summer was peculiar.
They only brought in senior players on loan whilst they sold two of their key players in Pontus Jansson and Kemar Roofe.
One was named in the PFA Team of the Year last term, the other was their top scorer.
However, in losing young players like Aapo Halme, Clarke Oduor and Tom Pearce it was strange.
That being said, there could now be a clearer route to the first team for one of Leeds’ rising academy players.
On the chalkboard
Concerns were raised about Leeds’ defence in pre-season but so far this term they’ve only conceded three goals in the Championship as they boast one of the best records in the division.
Marcelo Bielsa seems to have found a new resilience to the defence, largely thanks to Ben White who is averaging 4.2 interceptions and 2.5 tackles per game.
Breaking into that centre of defence which has mainly consisted of Liam Cooper and White will be difficult but it’s not completely out of the question.
In 2019/20, Bielsa has already lined up with Gaetano Berardi and Leif Davis at centre half too.
But it’s the transfer business conducted in the summer that is paving the way for someone like Pascal Struijk to potentially stake a claim.
The 20-year-old was signed from the prestigious Ajax academy in 2018 and is yet to feature for the first team despite being a regular for the U23s.
He replaced the injured Davis for the youth side against Bristol City last Sunday but with players like Halme departing, gaps have opened and the route has become clearer.
Andrea Radrizzani and Victor Orta are the ones charged with making the big calls on transfers and it’s their work and negotiations in recent months that Struijk should be thankful for.
As recently as Monday, Conor Shaughnessy was sent out on loan, thus opening another door for the young Dutchman to get into the first team.
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There are plenty of competition for places, even within the U23s, something that’s evident with Jamie Shackleton, Mateusz Bogusz and Alfie McCalmont in the middle of the park.
But defence has also been another area where the rivalry at youth level has been fierce.
In Radrizzani and Orta moving on some of their young defenders either permanently or temporarily, there might well be an opening for Struijk.
Yorkshire Evening Post suggested this summer that Bielsa rates him highly. Therefore, he must be on the Argentine’s mind as someone who could earn a debut this season.
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