Leeds United continue their search of a central defender this summer and SC Freiburg star Robin Koch is the latest name Marcelo Bielsa is interested in adding to his squad.
A story from The Sun claims that Leeds United have given up on their chase of Ben White and are set to make a £20m bid for Koch in the upcoming days.
Robin Koch has just a year left on his current deal in Germany, so should Bielsa make this move?
Who Is Robin Koch?
The 24-year-old announced himself to the Bundesliga with Freiburg back in 2017 and managed to slowly cement a place in the first team.
Last season, he started 31 league games and on the back of his solid displays, is currently regarded as one of the most consistent defenders in the German top flight.
Strong in the air and off the ball as well, Koch is a versatile centre-back, who can also play in multiple defensive midfield roles. But his ability to act as the leader of the backline is what makes him a real asset in defence.
He is also productive with the ball at his feet, possessing the ability to not only dribble out of tight spaces but also launch long-balls, adding a different dimension in attack to his side.
Koch’s frame makes him a dangerous player in both the boxes and at just 24, he can be a long term solution in defence for the Whites.
Robin Koch: Right Man For Leeds?
Marcelo Bielsa stuck with Ben White and Liam Cooper as his first choice centre-backs for most of the last season. Gaetano Berardi and even Luke Ayling were used as backups but Leeds have just two players in the first team for that role at the moment.
Ben White has returned to Brighton, who seem adamant to retain him this summer, while Berardi was allowed to quit as a free agent, leaving Leeds United in search of more than one central defender.
The interest in Robin Koch means that Bielsa sees the German star as a first-team player next season.
Cooper may retain his place in the starting XI but Ayling should remain at right-back leaving Koch with a place at the heart of the backline.
Bielsa also seems to be impressed with young Pascal Struijk, whose versatility could be crucial in the long run. But for immediate results in the top flight, they need an established star who can walk into the first team and at the moment, Robin Koch fits the bill well.
With two caps for Germany and 82 Bundesliga appearances to his name, Koch has enough experience under his belt and if Bielsa’s scouting system is interested in him, the English club should do what it takes to land him this summer.
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