Leeds could finally complete the signing of Rodrigo De Paul in the coming days.
The Whites have been linked with the midfielder throughout the summer, and it seems they are now edging closer to what has been a long-awaited transfer.
If De Paul does become a Leeds player before the close of the transfer window, his arrival will undoubtedly have an impact on the rest of the squad.
Here we’ve taken a look at which players are most likely to benefit from the signing of the Argentine playmaker.
Mateusz Klich
A new midfield partner might bring the very best out of Klich, whose energy and drive could complement De Paul’s creativity and guile.
The latter is likely to be seen as a long-term replacement for Pablo Hernandez, who at 35 probably only has, at most, a couple of years left at the top level.
The Spaniard probably won’t be able to start as many games as he used to, so having that extra creative presence in midfield - and someone a decade younger than Hernandez - can only be a positive for Klich.
De Paul’s defensive work rate and relative youth might also give Klich a little less to do off the ball, allowing him to conserve some much-needed energy.
Rodrigo
Leeds’ marquee signing of the summer will be licking his lips if the De Paul transfer goes through as planned.
The £26m forward would thrive off the service provided by De Paul, whose vision and ability to play an incisive pass - often across long distances - are amongst his greatest strengths.
His ability to glide forward with the ball from midfield and link up with his more advanced teammates should prove effective with Rodrigo in the team, too.
Both are technically gifted players and could form a formidable partnership. Their extra quality will certainly make it easier for Leeds to cut through packed defences.
Jack Harrison
De Paul is also an option for Bielsa on the left of midfield, a position he has played in for Valencia and Udinese.
His ability to drift inside and shoot or play in a teammate might appeal to the Leeds boss, even if Jack Harrison made an excellent start to the season with a goal in the 4-3 loss at Anfield.
The young winger has his own set of skills, of course: a remarkable turn of speed, direct running and an eye for goal. But he will be wary of De Paul potentially stealing his place.
That should be enough to push Harrison, to motivate him ahead of a long season. He will need to be consistent, and to build on what was an excellent 2019-20 season.
The extra competition should be extremely beneficial for the 23-year-old.
Pablo Hernandez
It might seem odd to claim that the arrival of a player’s eventual replacement could prove beneficial, but there is a clear upside for Hernandez.
De Paul’s signing would mean Hernandez doesn’t need to play every minute of every game. He could be used sparingly, when he’s at his sharpest, without worrying about the fatigue that can set in with older players.
It would also take some of the pressure off Hernandez to be the creative spark in midfield. He was, unsurprisingly, the man Leeds often turned to when they were struggling to breach teams that played with ten men behind the ball last season.
He had the answer often enough, but De Paul would bring something fresh and different and allow Hernandez to take more of an intermittent role.
