Why Leeds United did not sign an Adam Forshaw replacement in the January transfer window – Leeds Live

Transfers to replace injured Adam Forshaw at Leeds United in January were not considered because of the cost and level of midfielder required.

Head coach Marcelo Bielsa addressed the matter of Forshaws hip surgery in Thursdays press conference after it had been announced the midfielders season was over.

Forshaw went under the knife on Thursday in Colorado and will now look to return to action in pre-season ahead of 2020/21.

One of the main tenets of Bielsas tenure at Elland Road has been his refusal to run with anything other than a small squad.

When a key cog in that unit is ruled out, their absence is keenly felt. Furthermore, when their season is prematurely ended less than two weeks after the latest transfer window ends, there are question marks around contingency plans.

Elia Caprile, Ian Poveda and Jean-Kevin Augustin were the only three additions last month. Forshaw, despite his aborted attempts to return, was not directly replaced.

Bielsa explained why and acknowledged it is troubling to have planned a campaign for an 18-man squad and then lose a regular starter permanently.

I would like to count on Forshaw, he said. We resolve this situation with [Kalvin] Phillips, with [Mateusz] Klich, but when you plan one season with 18 players it is not the same as when you have to struggle with less players.

If we bring in another player, always we have to bring in a better player and better means, in every sense, not just in skills, resources, if not one player who can compete right now.

We can bring one player like that paying a lot of money.

Augustins status in the squad has already been discussed at length by Bielsa, who has repeatedly pointed to the Frenchmans limited minutes across the past 12 months and inadequate fitness for his system.

Evidently, this need to hit the ground running also played on Bielsas mind when it came to any proposed Forshaw replacement.

Also, it is understood the Whites do not have a sizeable space in their Profit and Sustainability projections to accommodate such an investment.

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Why Leeds United did not sign an Adam Forshaw replacement in the January transfer window - Leeds Live