Leeds United Should Avoid “Junior Firpo Replacement” This Summer for Crucial Reason – View
Replacing key first-team players this summer was always going to be the biggest challenge for Daniel Farke and the recruitment team, especially since losing the playoff final signaled the departure of several starting lineup members.
While there are significant changes on the right side of full-back, uncertainty surrounds Junior Firpo’s position on the left. Reports from Spain indicate that Leeds left-back Firpo is a prime target for his former club Real Betis, who are revamping their squad after losing two key players and have already signed Romain Perraud from Southampton.
Estadio Deportivo reports that Betis is keen to bring the 27-year-old back to Seville. Consequently, Leeds is said to be monitoring potential replacements for the eight-assist defender. One such target is PEC Zwolle youngster Anselmo Garcia MacNulty.
While Garcia MacNulty is undoubtedly a talented player and Leeds are right to track him, he would be a poor fit to replace Firpo unless Farke plans a formation change. MacNulty is a left-sided centre-back who can cover at left-back, similar to how Leeds have used Pascal Struijk and Max Wöber in the past.
Fans don’t typically evaluate Struijk and Wöber based on their left-back performances, and the same should apply to Garcia MacNulty. Although he is a versatile and talented centre-back, he is not suited for the left-back role that Leeds needs.
The team requires a left-back who can hold width in the final third, allowing their winger to drift infield, a trademark move of Crysencio Summerville last season. At 21, Garcia MacNulty doesn’t fit this profile.
However, he would be an excellent signing as a centre-back option.
