Leeds United tipped to sign Kalvin Phillips ally after manager’s confession – pundit
Alan Hutton has tipped Leeds United to sign a new defensive midfielder as cover for Kalvin Phillips this summer.
The former Scotland defender, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, admitted the Whites have struggled to replace the 26-year-old when absent.
As quoted by Leeds Live last Saturday (12 February), Marcelo Bielsa admitted he made an “error” starting Mateusz Klich in a defensive role during the 3-0 defeat to Everton.
The Poland international came off at halftime for Adam Forshaw.
Hutton suggested the real blunder was not signing competition for Phillips.
Hutton told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “Sometimes it’s good, especially from a fan’s point of view, to see your manager come out and say that he made a mistake. That he should have done something different.
“Hindsight is a wonderful thing. I’m pretty sure that at the start of the game he’d have been thinking that this was the right choice. He is still a technically gifted player who can play in different positions.
“He would have expected a higher standard of performance. It didn’t quite work. Klich does like to get forward, link up play and do that side of it. These are problems that we’ve spoken about on a number of occasions.
“When Philips doesn’t play, they’re not the same team. They need somebody in to help him, competition or whatever. They’ve tried different people there, even Struijk’s played in there at times.
“They have tried different options. It is something I always thought that they need to go and strengthen.
“Whether it be January, which they obviously can’t now, or the summer. It’s an area of the park that they do need to do something about.”
Phillips is currently out of action with a serious hamstring injury.
He may return to action in early March.
In other news, medical expert fears Leeds United ace out for extended period after “massive” news.