Leeds now must target move for ‘clever’ midfielder who can be Farke’s new Buendia – opinion
Leeds United will need to add a new creative midfielder to their squad this summer if they are to be successful under Daniel Farke.
Farke was finally confirmed as Leeds’ new boss on Tuesday evening and has got straight to work today in what is the club’s first day at pre-season training.
The 46-year-old became Leeds’ leading contender after impressing in interviews with Angus Kinnear and Paraag Marathe, as well as his track record in the Championship having twice lifted the title with Norwich City.
A key player in each of those seasons was Emiliano Buendia; a creative, nimble number 10 who can also play out wide while providing an abundance of goals and assists.
Across those two years, he netted 23 goals and provided 29 assists, with the 2020/21 campaign one of the best individual seasons ever seen in the Championship.
Leeds should target move for QPR star, he can be Farke’s Buendia
That type of player profile is desperately lacking in the current Leeds squad having never really replaced Pablo Hernandez, who was the Whites’ leading creative force for a number of years in the Championship.
A realistic player who could fit that mould is Queens Park Rangers’ Ilias Chair, though according to journalist Darren Witcoop, Leicester City are heavily interested.
Leicester have already moved quickly to bring in reported Leeds target Harry Winks, as well as Conor Coady, and they cannot allow them to beat them to the punch again.
Chair is a ‘clever’ number 10 who at 5’2, is a similar stature to Buendia, but does not let his height affect him due to his impressive dribbling and intelligence on the ball.
The 25-year-old has put up consistent numbers in the Championship for several seasons now, including five goals and nine assists in a very poor QPR side that were almost relegated last term.
In a more possession-based, creative team like what Farke is looking to build at Leeds, he could explode at this level and would certainly not be out of the club’s price bracket.
