Leeds United To Sign Welsh International On The Cheap?
SeanWalkerSport
SeanWalker
2 hours ago
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It has recently been reported by The Sun journalist, Alan Nixon, that Swansea City starlet Dan James could potentially be on his way off to the current Championship leaders Leeds United.
The Welsh International has enjoyed a breakout season, storming into the Swansea team as a regular in October and making his Wales debut against Albania by November.
The baby-faced winger has quickly become a key member of Swansea City’s rebuild following their relegation from the Premier League, bringing pace, energy and desire to this youthful Swansea team.
With only 18-months left on his current deal at Liberty Stadium, it seems that Swansea City chairman Huw Jenkins is bizarrely ready to cash in on the youngster at a cut price deal.
What He Brings To The Table
Personally, I’m a huge fan of Dan James and I can understand why Marcelo Bielsa is after him. He is a very direct player who is probably the quickest player I’ve seen in the Championship bar Adama Traore. It is that very lighting pace that stands out the most from his game.
He is definitely more of a Leroy Sane than an Adama Traore, though. Dan James clearly has a football brain. He’s developed well under Swansea’s possession based philosophy and has come a long way.
What makes him a Swansea City player and not a Manchester City player is his lack of ability to beat his man on occasions and most importantly, his lack of end product. I feel he becomes much more restricted if the opposition sit back and restrict the space, as James is at his best latching onto long balls over the top of the defence.
James has three assists to his name this season, which is mediocre considering the attacking positions he gets himself into. However, being in them chances to begin with is a huge positive as his end product can be developed. Especially by a crazy Argentinian genius like Bielsa.
If you’re interested of an example of what he can produce, watch the 1:30 of this. The first cross is what James often produces, but the second cross for the goal is what James has in his locker. He seems to create most of his chances when there is space in behind.
https://youtu.be/Vwq2tTe-O3MIt is clearly creativity in which Bielsa is after, Dan James has that in abundance. He can create more than Saiz (who left for Getafe last month), granted from from a left midfield position rather than a #10 that Saiz was. With Roofe’s impressively intelligent movement and learning to play with Tyler Roberts for club and country, there are many potential goals to be scored there.
Likelihood Of The Deal
With his contract running up, and the pure greed from the Americans and Huw behind Swansea City, I am day by day believing this transfer could occur.
After only properly breaking into the team in October, I think for both parties it is best if Dan James stays at Swansea to further continue his development being a first team player.
He is not going to be a key member if he leaves this window. He will certainly be pushed down the pecking order of Leeds get promoted, which I’d stick a tenner on them winning the league if I was a betting man.
I don’t trust the soul destroying men running Swansea to offer James an improved deal in which he deserves. I don’t trust them to turn down bids that are not even above 5 million pounds.
Steve Kaplan and Jason Levien, American ‘investors’ (I use that term ironically), seem to be happy to just continue to asset strip before moving on. It’s a disgrace how they are silently killing what was and should still be an established Premier League club before they took over in 2016. Whilst Huw Jenkins just watches over it.
This will be music to Leeds United fans ears. They could easily be signing an absolute gem for so cheap with real potential. Jack Clark and Dan James on either wing is a terrifying prospect.
Alternatives?
There have been a couple of alternative names that Leeds have been linked with. Firstly, Callum O’Dowda. Bristol City today have triggered a one-year-extension on his current deal. However, his contract now still only lasts 18 months, meaning all it has done is increase any potential transfer fee that comes in for him.
O’Dowda is in excellent form of late and would be a very shrewd signing. The 23-year-old has 15 caps for the Republic Of Ireland and has scored two goals for Bristol City this season, including a rocket against Norwich City in front of the Sky Sports camera’s.
Lastly, Jefferson Montero seems to be third on Bielsa’s list. Swansea boss Graham Potter today described the Ecuadorian as ‘unique’. You can say that again, Graham. Jefferson Montero set the Premier League by storm once upon a time in what feels like a generation ago.
Despite Montero single-handedly winning Swansea 6 points in their first month of Championship football against Millwall and Sheffield United away, he has struggled to make any impact since.
Montero has an atrocious injury record, which isn’t getting better as he gets older. Again, I see why he has been scouted by Leeds United, and following Bielsa’s presentation I don’t doubt he has been thoroughly scouted. But Montero is unlikely to have any impact in the Premier League if promotion is gained this season and the move feels illogical long-term.
In conclusion, I believe Leeds would really be showing that they’re building for the future if they sign James or O’Dowda instead of an injury prone and ageing Montero. James is deservedly their number one target for me, but if that deal goes through, there will be riots in SA1.