Leeds United have been once again linked with a move for Club Brugge winger Noa Lang as Marcelo Bielsa reportedly eyes more attacking recruits.
Leeds completed one of the biggest pieces of business on deadline day this summer when they brought in Dan James from Manchester United for £25million.
It reinforced Marcelo Bielsa’s wide options very well, adding some quality behind Raphinha and Jack Harrison in the squad.
However, he wasn’t the only player that was linked with a move to Elland Road over the summer, with Dutch starlet Noa Lang another very strongly linked.
Obviously, Leeds ended up with James in their pursuit of a winger in the summer, but now, Football Insider are claiming that the Whites are still keen on Lang.
A move for the 22-year-old would have to wait until at least January if one was to materialise, but it would help the attacking side of the squad a lot.
Here, we take a look at one winner and one loser at Elland Road if a move for Lang went through…
Winner: Patrick Bamford
In our first Premier League season under Bielsa, a key issue in games where we struggled was our lack of immediate goal threat when Bamford was nullified.
It didn’t happen often, but if Bamford has little to work off in a game and no runners with him, there’s not much he can do.
In Lang, Leeds would be getting a winger much different to their current options. Harrison, Raphinha, and James are all brilliant in sticking out wide and delivering the service for Bamford.
Lang offers us more of an ‘inside forward’ role from either the left or right, coming infield and bringing more of a direct goal threat through the middle with Bamford.
After all, 33 goal involvements in all competitions since he joined Brugge shows you just what he can bring.
Relieving some of the burden on Bamford to keep firing in the goals would be great for this squad going forward.
Loser: Dan James
The loser here is the man who would be hugely undermined by the arrival of another winger, being Dan James.
The huge deadline day signing was brought in instead of Lang as that added competition and depth we needed on the wings.
Lang would do the same, but now you’ve got two players every week – who are good enough to start – playing on the bench.
It means you’re flirting with the idea of players becoming unhappy just for the sake of a luxury signing in Lang.
While he would add a lot to this side, it’s not going to be one that would go down well with regards to James’ confidence as a new signing.