Leeds United continue to be linked with the same Premier League stalwart, suggesting they could be set to emulate a previous success that earned them promotion

just three years ago.

Are Leeds United signing Nat Phillips?

With Phil Hay having detailed the Whites’ interest in Nat Phillips back in late June, a lot has changed since then

The 49ers’ takeover has officially gone through, and Daniel Farke has been appointed as the new manager set to spearhead their push for a top-flight return.

And yet, despite all this upheaval, Leeds Live attest that they remain interested in the Liverpool defender, with Gretar Steinsson and Nick Hammond targetting the c

entre-back area with the “most vigour”.

It is expected that the Reds will command a £10m fee for his services, which could prove to be a huge coup that improves them massively for the coming campaign.

How good is Nat Phillips?

Although not something fans will look back on with fondness, the west Yorkshire outfit do have plenty of recent experience when it comes to attempting to engineer

promotion pushes.

After all, they did endure a 16-year absence the last time they were relegated from the Premier League, with Marcelo Bielsa the man to finally complete that

comeback.

His tenure was a largely successful one, despite its unceremonious end, and was littered with various outstanding triumphs that helped shape the club in his image.

One such decision was tempting Ben White from Brighton and Hove Albion on loan, as the defender thrived during that infamous 2019/20 term.

The 25-year-old featured in all 46 of their Championship games that year, maintaining a 7.06 average rating that made him Leeds’ seventh-best performer. He

became a key cog in Bielsa’s system, with the ball-playing star keeping 22 clean sheets and recording an 85% pass accuracy, 2.5 interceptions and 2.7 clearances per

game, via Sofascore.

White was imperious and without him, they would not have eased to the title that year.

So, to see that the club are seeking to emulate that success by once again poaching a centre-back from a top-flight club will have supporters thrilled; especially considering the touted move would actually be a permanent one.

Whilst Phillips might not be as young or classy on the ball, he does boast key defensive attributes that will help plug the biggest weakness that Farke has inherited.

Last season saw the Whites ship 78 goals in the league as they fell to the drop, the most in the division. The 26-year-old titan will be incensed to reduce that figure severely.

When taking into account his brief Championship stint, as he enjoyed the final six months of the 2021/22 campaign on loan with AFC Bournemouth, there is precedent to believe that the Bolton-born academy graduate could help lead a promotion charge from the back just as White did all those years ago.

The Cherries went up in second that year, whilst Phillips maintained a 7.04 average rating alongside an 82% pass accuracy, 1.5 interceptions and 4.1 clearances per game, via Sofascore.

However, Jurgen Klopp had foreseen such stellar showings on a regular basis, as he lauded the colossus back in 2021:

“In the air, he’s a monster but you could see it today, he’s football-wise not bad, really good”.

Should the out-of-favour defender now recapture such form once again, it could prove pivotal in fixing a huge issue, shoring up the backline and emulating a success of old by looking to a top-flight club to help drag them out of their mess yet again.

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Leeds: Imagine Francis Amuzu & Harrison

The Anderlecht winger could be the next face to arrive at Elland Road…

 

 

 

 

Leeds United are among the English outfits interested in pursuing a deal for Anderlecht winger Francis Amuzu this summer, and Daniel Farke could look to issue a formal offer over the coming days.

Is Francis Amuzu joining Leeds?

According to Belgian newspaper Nieuwsblad’s Pieter-Jan Calcoen, Amuzu is “high on the wish list” of Leeds, with Premier League new-boys Luton Town and Ligue 1 outfit OGC Nice also vying for his signature.

Calcoen does confirm that there has not been a concrete offer as yet, but that at least one of the interested parties is preparing an offer to prise him away from the Purple & Whites.

Farke’s Championship outfit have lost a myriad of first-team stars after suffering relegation from the English top flight this year and could now look to intensify their attention on the £4m-rated Belgium U21 international with just one week until the start of the season.

Who is Francis Amuzu?

Farke has addressed Leeds’ requirement for a new goalkeeper by completing a deal for Newcastle United’s Karl Darlow, having previously bolstered the defence with the £7m acquisition of Ethan Ampadu from Chelsea.

Signing Amuzu would be a prudent move for the Whites, who are a little light in the attacking ranks after losing Brenden Aaronson and Rodrigo, and given his dynamism and fluidity across both wings, would be a worthwhile addition.

Not only would he bring creativity in abundance, having completed 12 assists from 50 outings last term, but he would enhance the side’s passing flow and aptitude in driving up the pitch, with FBref ranking the Ghana-born ace among the top 3% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Men’s Next Eight divisions for pass completion and the top 21% for progressive carries per 90.

He could thrive with Jack Harrison on the Elland Road flanks, with the 26-year-old Englishman also capable both on the left and right wing and scoring five goals and providing seven assists in the Premier League last season despite his side’s relegation, having been called “outstanding” by former boss Javi Gracia.

While the 22/23 campaign was not Harrison’s greatest by any stretch of the imagination, he still averaged 1.1 shots and 1.5 key passes per game, working industriously and also making 1.1 tackles per game.

 

 

 

 

His work rate is illustrated by FBref, with the former Manchester City prospect also ranking among the top 8% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues for blocks and the top 14% for clearances per 90.

Amuzu’s passing proficiency has already been displayed by the statistics-led site, but given that he also ranks among the top 17% for interceptions per 90, it’s clear that he has the mentality that will serve him in good stead to succeed in west Yorkshire.

What this signifies is a hard-working pairing on the wings this season, and while Farke will know that he holds a crop of players with more quality than most in the second tier, it is the application and diligence that will be imperative in crafting a cohesive and unified squad to rise back to prominence.

Amuzu certainly has “quality” – as commended by former boss Vincent Kompany – but with the assiduous nature to go with it, he would surely be a risk worth taking to aid Leeds and indeed Harrison in their seasonal endeavours.