This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
Dwight Gayle, Matej Vydra and Rhian Brewster are three options seemingly on the table for Leeds in January.
Out of all of them, Brewster would seem the most likely, especially given Leeds’ lack of funds.
The teenager was linked with Leeds over the weekend, adding to a plethora of options that could walk through the doors at Elland Road in Leeds.
Journalist Phil Hay has detailed the issues with signing two of the aforementioned names, however. High wage demands and interest from Nottingham Forest would make it hard to land Gayle while Vydra, who was linked with the club last week (The Mirror, 22/11, page 74), didn’t impress the hierarchy in the summer.
The pair of them have a combined 124 goals at Championship level and both have previously played a huge role in promotion charges. The Newcastle forward bagged 24 last term for West Brom. As for Vydra, he scored 21 for Derby in 2017/18 and 20 for Watford in 2012/13.
But when you look at Brewster’s career, not only has he never scored at this level but he’s also only ever played two senior games.
On that evidence, is this really someone you want to bring in to strengthen your promotion hopes? Arguably not.
However, Brewster is a generational talent, a teenager blessed with quality in abundance. He was the top scorer when England’s U17’s won the World Cup while the likes of Steven Gerrard and Jurgen Klopp have praised the young forward.
The Liverpool man has even drawn comparisons to Robbie Fowler. A Whites striker of the past, he scored 14 goals in 31 games for the Yorkshire outfit.
Speaking in July, Jason McAteer said: “You can see bits of Rushy [Ian Rush] in him, the way he runs, the way he closes people down. Also, bits of Robbie Fowler in his finishing.”
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If Brewster could replicate that, Leeds would be in a bright position. However, the trouble is, there is no way to guarantee that and he could simply end up like Eddie Nketiah.
The pair are easy to compare – both have pace, finesse and an ability to score goals. Nketiah has five of them this term but an injury has now set his development back even further.
The 20-year-old has struggled for game time and despite Patrick Bamford previously going on a run of ten games without a goal, he couldn’t get in the team.
With that in mind, it’s difficult to see how anyone could usurp him in Marcelo Bielsa’s plans.
Brewster has scored 18 goals at youth level in the past few seasons but signing someone on loan with no prior experience at senior-level would be a gamble. Is it one worth taking? Quite possibly, but not when there are better options out there.
Leeds aren’t just playing for promotion this season. They’re also playing for Marcelo Bielsa’s future and possible investment from QSI. They must get things right in January.
And in other news, Phil Hay has dropped a big hint over the future of Marcelo Bielsa if QSI invest…