Leeds United reporter Conor McGilligan has been reacting to a transfer update on Robin Koch.
The Lowdown: Koch to go?
The Whites defender has been in and out of the team this season, failing to nail down a regular role at the back.
The German did fill in for Kalvin Phillips in a defensive midfield role since the turn of the year but has been a substitute in Leeds’ recent upturn in form over the last three games and might not be confident of getting into the line-up for the visit to Watford on Saturday.
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According to Football Insider, the club will listen to offers for Koch in the summer, with a fee in the region of £10m-£11m thought to be enough to prompt a deal.
Leeds are thought to be planning a defensive overhaul ahead of Jesse Marsch’s first season in charge, with Koch potentially moving on from Elland Road.
The Latest: McGilligan reacts to Koch exit reports
McGilligan, who works for Leeds Live, took to Twitter in response to the update regarding Koch. He feels that the 25-year-old has ‘way more potential’ than Diego Llorente, describing a possible exit for the former as an ‘absolutely bizarre decision’.
When asked if he thought Koch should be allowed to leave, the journalist firmly replied:
“Absolutely not. Llorente goes over Koch ability wise for me, you’ve also got to look at the age of both – way more potential for Robin. Would be an absolutely bizarre decision.”
The Verdict: Leeds’ worst-rated defender…
You can see why Leeds are considering parting ways with Koch this summer in what could well be a summer shake-up at Elland Road, should Marsch steer the club to Premier League safety.
As per WhoScored, Koch has struggled this season with an average match rating of just 6.32/10, with fellow centre-backs Liam Cooper, Pascal Struijk and Llorente all outperforming the German.
He has actually been the club’s worst-rated senior performer and has also missed 38 games through injury and illness since arriving in Yorkshire, so if one of the four were to go, it wouldn’t be a shock if Koch was the man to be jettisoned, despite McGilligan’s protestations.
In other news: Leeds and Marsch handed early injury boost as ‘strong’ player may now return v Watford