Leeds United have been chasing a winger all summer, but as of yet, they’ve not managed to get someone through the door who can play that role.
Their bid for Ryan Kent was highly-publicised at the time, while they have also been linked to Ryan Sessegnon in recent times, but the most recent reports are stating that they’re interested in Leicester City’s Demarai Gray.
The left-wing spot has belonged to Jack Harrison in Bielsa’s side for the last two seasons, but the prospect of Gray coming in is incredibly exciting, especially when you consider the high praise Brendan Rodgers had for him earlier this year:
“He can dribble, he can do everything. It’s just that I think with Demarai it’s always been about that end product, about creating goals and assisting goals on a regular basis,” His manager said.
Unfortunately, Rodgers’ complaints about his end product are well-founded, the attacker had an xG of 0.41 per 90 mins and an xA of 0.31 per 90 mins, but with just two goals and three assists to his name in the league last season, it seems as though his finishing and final ball needs to improve.
Luckily, Bielsa knows how to get the best out of his wingers, just look at Jack Harrison’s remarkable improvement from his first season at Leeds to his second, with the winger going from seven goal contributions in 2018/19 to 14 in 2019/20, and that improvement looks to be continuing this term, with one goal and an assist in his first three Premier League appearances.
Gray’s xG indicates that his movement is top-notch, and that is something Bielsa values incredibly highly, so if the Argentine can get his end-product up to an acceptable rate, he will have a real player on his hands.
The £13.05m-rated man could be the perfect player for Bielsa to work with. He’s an unpolished gem who could shine if given the correct guidance.