Leeds look to be close to securing the transfer of Udinese midfielder Rodrigo de Paul, a deal that has been in the making for weeks.
Getting it over the line will be a relief. It will also allow Marcelo Bielsa to turn his attention back to matters on the pitch and, more specifically, how he can best utilise the talents of De Paul.
The Argentina international has generally played in a more advanced central midfield role for Udinese, operating as his side’s primary creator.
With seven goals in Serie A last season, he is a capable finisher, too, and should provide Leeds with more dynamism in the final third.
Here we take a look at the different ways the Whites could line up with De Paul in the starting XI.
De Paul and Mateusz Klich in midfield
Bielsa has generally stuck with his tried and tested 4-1-4-1 system of late, so De Paul could slot into midfield alongside Klich.
The energy and running power of the Poland international would likely compliment De Paul’s more considered, artistic approach to the game. He is an excellent passer of the ball, with the vision to spot the runs of his teammates from anywhere on the pitch.
He carries the ball forward well, too, and has the required work rate to do the kind of pressing required in a Bielsa team.
The only question is whether De Paul is a better option than Pablo Hernandez in that role, but the latter is 35 now and is unlikely to start every game anyway.
De Paul and Hernandez in midfield
With the exceptional Kalvin Phillips anchoring the midfield, Bielsa might feel he can get away with a little more creative freedom further up the pitch.
Sacrificing Klich would be a risk, though in certain circumstances having the creativity of both De Paul and Hernandez in midfield could prove an effective way of breaking down packed defences.
Leeds will inevitably face some of them this season, as they did throughout their Championship promotion campaign.
The drawback of such a midfield could be the absence of pace and energy provided by Klich: De Paul is not especially quick, even if his technical attributes more than make up for that.
De Paul on the left wing
The 26-year-old is also comfortable playing on the left side of midfield, adept at gliding inside and trying to play a killer ball or shooting from distance.
De Paul would provide different strengths in that role to those of Jack Harrison, who got his Premier League campaign off to an excellent start with a goal in the 4-3 defeat at Liverpool.
The former is not as direct, nor as quick, as Harrison. But he is a player with more guile, capable of defter touches in the final third.
The prospect of De Paul drifting into central areas and linking up with fellow new signing Rodrigo is an exciting one, too.
Wherever the Argentine plays, he should add plenty of quality to Bielsa’s side.
