Soccer Football - Championship - Reading v Middlesbrough - Madejski Stadium, Reading, Britain - July 14, 2020 Reading's Michael Olise in action with Middlesbrough's Anfernee Dijksteel, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Action Images/Andrew Couldridge EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.
Leeds United have entered the race to sign highly-rated Reading youngster Michael Olise before Friday’s transfer deadline, along with Premier League rivals Wolves and Arsenal.
The Whites have seen most of their business in the foreing market as Spaniards Rodrigo Moreno and Diego Llorente arrived, along with German Robin Koch and Brazillian Raphinha.
A handful of players have arrived from the domestic market to boost the youth academy after being promoted to the Premier League 2 with Category One status. However, there is yet to be any investment from this country that has strengthened the first-team, despite the club’s best efforts to sign Ben White at the start of the window.
The only position left of any real concern in Leeds’ first-team is attacking midfield as they failed to secure extra depth before the international deadline shut.
There hasn’t been much problem with Leeds in the first four games of the season as they sit on seven points, following their brilliant performance against Manchester City last time out, but one extra signing might just be on the cards.
After Michael Cuisance’s deal collapsed in the latter stages of the international window, there hasn’t been too much clamour to sign someone who can play in a similar central midfield role, but Marcelo Bielsa is still somewhat glancing over the position for the future.
While there aren’t concrete offers for guaranteed first-team players being tabled, a report has emerged that Leeds are looking to sign another exciting youngster.
The Reading Chronicle is reporting that, alongside Wolves and Arsenal, Leeds are in the running to sign highly-rated Reading midfielder Michael Olise.
It is understood that two of these three clubs named have tabled offers of around £5million but then seen them rejected as the Royals value him very highly at the club and see him as an important first-team player for the season, as they sit pretty at the top end of the Championship table.
The pressure to seal a midfield signing this month has wavered somewhat after the arrival of Raphinha on deadline day, but it’s good to see that the club are still keen on investing in that area.
At present, we have Mateusz Klich, Jamie Shackleton and Tyler Roberts who could all slot into that role, so adding one more player in with similar genuine talent could be useful.
Olise starred at Elland Road last season when Leeds came out nervy 1-0 winners, as his class and skill in midfield was proving a constant handful for both Kalvin Phillips and Ben White.
Signing another big-money player for a position that doesn’t need enhancing might not be the wisest move, considering Klich has been more than good enough, so a prospect to play second-fiddle would be a lot better.
