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TBR View: Free agent is the ideal Leeds replacement for Kalvin Phillips, Bielsa knows him well

Will Butcher

Wed 21 October 2020 18:15, UK

Kalvin Phillips will be sidelined for the next six weeks in a crushing blow to Leeds United’s Premier League campaign after suffering a shoulder problem – and the perfect replacement remains a free agent, one that Marcelo Bielsa knows well.

It is awful timing for 24-year-old Phillips. He has enjoyed an excellent start to the season, helping Leeds pick up seven points from five games – despite facing teams such as Liverpool, Manchester City and Wolves.

He has also picked up four caps for England. That momentum will be washed away, with Phillips now set to undergo rehab which could keep him sidelined until December. Leeds have little cover, with Pascal Struijk being used in defence.

The Dutchman is currently replacing injured duo Diego Llorente and Liam Cooper. Bielsa may have to look at bringing in a free agent – which is a possibility, if the free agent has not been registered to a club at the start of the season.

Step forward, Ander Iturraspe. The 31-year-old midfielder, who has two caps for Spain, is a free agent after being released by Espanyol – a team who he joined just last summer. Before that, he had played for Bilbao since academy level.

He played 320 times for Bilbao during his career – two seasons of which came under Bielsa. The Argentine once described him “indispensable” in 2013 but Iturraspe is now without a club, some way into 2020-21.

in the summer of 2019 that Leeds were keen on Iturraspe but he decided to remain in Spain, joining Espanyol. But just 18 appearances followed last season and he is now looking for a new challenge.

Leeds need a defensive midfielder and are only able to look at the free agent market for a new signing. A move for Iturraspe makes complete sense given Bielsa knows him well – whether the Whites will consider a move, remains to be seen.