Leeds United have made three signings so far ahead of the 2019-20 season, but all of them have been loan deals. The club are actively pursuing a few players, though.
The Whites are interested in signing a midfielder, and have shortlisted Brentford’s Romaine Sawyers, who is entering the final year of his contract with the Bees.
Sawyers is being trailed by Leeds as well as Scottish champions Celtic, as per Record Sport, and the Saint Kitts and Nevis international is valued at £2.5 million.
The 27-year-old is the Brentford captain, having joined the club from Walsall back in 2016.
Sawyers has made over 100 appearances for Brentford, scoring 8 goals in 135 appearances. In the 2018-19 campaign, the 27-year-old made 6 assists in 46 appearances in all competitions.
The Birmingham-born player has represented Saint Kitts and Nevis since 2012, and has made over 20 appearances for the national team.
What will Romaine Sawyers add to the team?
Sawyers is a creative player who can pick out a pass thanks to his good technical ability, and has the vision to see runs and make clever passes. He attempted an average 63.9 passes in the Championship last season, with a pass percentage of 86.2%.
A player who can play as a defensive midfielder, central midfielder, or as an attacking midfielder, Sawyers can boss the midfield with his passing and control of the ball in midfield.
He will fit in well in Bielsa’s style of play which requires versatile players who can hold the ball and pass it around, as well as move into pockets of space to exploit the opposition’s defence.
Sawyers could be a very good signing for Leeds, having already played four seasons in the Championship with Brentford, while he also possesses the qualities needed to fit into Bielsa’s formation.
Bielsa used Adam Forshaw, Mateusz Klich, Jamie Shackleton, and Kalvin Phillips mostly in midfield, and with rumours suggesting that Phillips could leave Leeds, the Whites might have to sign a midfielder to bolster their squad.
With just one year remaining on his contract, Sawyers could be available for a reasonable price, and considering he is in his peak years, he would be a pretty shrewd addition to Leeds United.
Stats via Whoscored