Leeds United tipped to complete surprise multiple signings after confession – ‘phwoar, he’s off his head’
Alex McLeish has tipped Leeds United to copy Arsenal and make multiple youth signings in a surprise move after Victor Orta confession.
The former Scotland manager, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, suggested the Whites could take a leaf out of the Gunners’ book in terms of bringing young prospects into the senior side.
Speaking during the Training Ground Guru’s scouting and recruitment webinar on Tuesday (22 March), Orta revealed Leeds plan to continue “Marcelo Bielsa’s legacy” of “youth development” under new boss Jesse Marsch.
He stated the first-team squad would be made up of “18 professionals” and four under-23s players.
Orta admitted the strategy is “risky” but could be “worth millions” to the club in the long run.
McLeish compared the Whites’ plans to those Mikel Arteta has implemented at Arsenal.
McLeish told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “A good example is Arsenal. Arteta has stuck to his guns, he’s let Aubameyang go.
“People were thinking: ‘Phwoar, he’s off his head,’ but he’s looking a terrific manager now. He had so much faith in these young players coming through.
“Leeds are maybe thinking along these lines of: ‘We have got to trust the youth.’
“They obviously have to to be at a level in terms of being on the verge of playing in the Premier League. They obviously need experience.
“The more minutes they get in that Premier League, the more they blend into the team.
“I just have to say, Arsenal looked a really slick side against Aston Villa. I loved watching them and they were very enterprising. Those young guys, it was almost like they didn’t have a care in the world.”
Joe Gelhardt, Charlie Cresswell and Sam Greenwood have all made their Premier League debuts for Leeds this season.
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