Phillips: Alioski may be quitting Leeds United after key Hay update
Ezgjan Alisoki may leave Leeds United if the club are indeed looking to sign a new left-back in the summer.
That is according to European Golden Shoe winner Kevin Phillips, speaking exclusively to Football Insider after manager Marcelo Bielsa suggested he would in fact like the Macedonia international to stay with Leeds after his contract expires in June.
Quoted in the Yorkshire Evening Post, Bielsa said: “I think if Alioski chooses Leeds, Leeds will choose Alioski.”
The 28-year-old is known for his versatility and has played left-back, left-wing, right-wing, centre-midfield and centre-forward during his time in West Yorkshire.
But the Athletic‘s Phil Hay revealed that the Whites are looking to bolster their ranks with an out-and-out left-back: “They are going to go for a left-back in the summer, which obviously calls into question where Alioski would fit.”
And while Phillips was quick to praise Alioski for his performances at left-back this season, he also said that he may well leave this summer if a new signing comes in.
He told Football Insider correspondent Dylan Childs: “He’s done a very good job there but it is a specialised position. In my opinion, I think you do need specialised players in those positions who know the role.
“Nowadays, it’s more of a wing-back role even if you do play with a flat back-four. You’re expecting both full-backs to bomb on, which he does.
“But defensively at times, he does get caught out. He gets caught ball-watching.
“Tackling isn’t his strong point either. He makes a lot of fouls, but you can’t knock him for that because he’s not natural in that position.
“I would say he might be sceptical knowing that if they do bring a specialised left-back in then his appearances might be limited. But all he can do is keep putting in the performances he’s doing and we’ll just have to wait and see.”
Alioski joined Leeds in July 2017 on a four-year deal from Swiss side FC Lugano.
The 39-time international has played 154 times for the Whites in total, scoring 22 goals and providing 16 assists.
In other news, a top pundit and boyhood Leeds fan has named the team he expects to start against Crystal Palace on Monday.