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TBR View: Lewis Cook could’ve solved Leeds injury problem, club linked in summer

Dom Toner

Tue 27 October 2020 13:15, UK

With Leeds United talisman Kalvin Phillips currently sidelined through injury, it does look like the Whites are a little light of options in the centre of the park and they may regret not signing another midfield option in the summer.

England international Phillips, 24, is a central midfielder that sits in the deep-lying playmaker role dictating possession and breaking up opposition’s attacks for Marcelo Bielsa’s side.

The Yorkshire giants do have the likes of Mateusz Klich, Jamie Shackleton, Pablo Hernandez and Rodrigo that can play in the middle, plus there is also injured star Adam Forshaw.

But Leeds had to rely on versatile defender Pascal Struijk to drop into midfield recently for the win over Aston Villa and an extra body in that area of the pitch looks massively needed.

Leeds were linked with several players in the recent summer transfer window and one man who would’ve been perfect for them to sign is Lewis Cook.

Cook currently plays in the Championship with Bournemouth, but he’s a product of the Leeds academy and left them in 2016 to join the Cherries.

The York-born central midfielder was linked with a return to Elland Road in August, with the reporting that Leeds were preparing a £15million move for him.

He’s remained with Bournemouth following their relegation to England’s second-tier, but he’s proven that he’s top-flight quality in the past and is exactly the kind of addition that Bielsa’s squad currently needs.

The 23-year-old is a versatile central midfielder that is a great technician with the ball and thrives dropping into deeper areas, which is why he could’ve been a great solution for Leeds to the kind of injury problems they are going to pick up over the course of the season playing the intensity that they do.