Daniel Farke has been hinting that Leeds’ January business hasn’t really gotten going with any movement in or out of the club. It should, however, alter given that the team has to recruit full-backs in order to have their defense fully stocked for the last stretch of the promotion race. Burnley right-back Connor Roberts, who is lower on the Turf Moor hierarchy, and the Whites are reportedly linked through transfers, according to the Yorkshire Evening Post. They disclosed that the following variables increase the likelihood of this transfer:
“The YEP acknowledges that Elland Road has long admired Connor Roberts’ style and athleticism, and it is believed the player would welcome being reunited with international teammates Joe Rodon, Ethan Ampadu, and Daniel James. However, there isn’t anything imminent in the works regarding a move for the right-back right now.”With three full internationals now playing for Leeds, the team currently has a strong Welsh connection, and young international Charlie Crew is a rising star. This was reported byDan James, a £25 million acquisition made by the club prior to Daniel Farke’s arrival, has excelled this season under the German’s direction.
He doesn’t seem like a perfect match on the right wing for a possession-based squad that frequently plays deep into games, but his eight goals and six assists this season demonstrate that he is putting up enough work to warrant a starting position.So much so that, following the loss of Djed Spence, a rampaging, attack-oriented right-back, Roberts’ connection undoubtedly forces Farke to reconsider his full-back lineup.
When Leeds possessed possession, it was evident at first that the left-back was supposed to invert (see Sam Byram), while the right-back would stand up to support the attack. However, judging on the way Junior Firpo and Archie Gray performed against Birmingham, it appears that the opposite is currently the case.
Firpo was more frequently observed overlapping, and Gray, by staying back when James went wide, maintained greater defensive stability. Roberts fills the role of someone with a distinct profile than Spence in case Farke continues to use James in his current form.
Though he wouldn’t be out of place with a team that controlled the ball, the former Swansea City player wouldn’t be having trouble against our full-backs one-on-one this year.
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