Deadline day was a relatively quiet one by Leeds United‘s standards, with the addition of Weston McKennie on January 30th the latest deal that Jesse Marsch’s side completed in January.
The USA international joins on a loan deal from Juventus which includes an obligation to buy in the summer, becoming the club’s third signing in January after Maximilian Wober and Georginio Rutter.
Another body in midfield will allow Marsch to change things up at Elland Road, with the former Salzburg boss now having the option of an all-American midfield, with Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson.
The arrival of the 24-year-old Schalke man could see Adam Forshaw’s spell in the first team finally come to an end but Marsch might consider dropping another midfielder in Sam Greenwood.
While he is still only 21, the former Arsenal man has struggled on his rare appearances in the first team this season, notching just one goal and two assists in ten appearances, averaging a disappointing 6.40 rating from WhoScored for his performances.
This ranks him as the 19th-best performer at Elland Road so far this season, so he is definitely a candidate to lose his place in the squad following the business done in January.
Since signing from Arsenal’s academy, Greenwood has certainly done the business with Leeds’ youth sides, hitting 21 goals and six assists in 40 appearances for the U21s but he is yet to show that sort of form with the senior side.
In 25 first-team appearances, the 21-year-old has just one goal and five assists, with Marsch opting to play him in a deeper role, which is yet to really pay off.
Although he looks to still have plenty of potential, you only have to look towards the impact of 19-year-old Wilfried Gnonto to realise that Greenwood might not have what it takes to be a regular in this Leeds side in the future.
McKennie should offer far more from a defensive perspective and has a great deal more senior experience than Greenwood, which could be vital in the second half of the season as Leeds look to retain their Premier League status.
Therefore, while Forshaw is seen as the one who will lose his place, it is arguably Greenwood who looks set to lose out the most from the signing of McKennie in January.
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