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Leeds United The team advanced to the FA Cup fourth round with a narrow 1-0 win over second division side Harrogate Town at Elland Road on Saturday.
In the second half, Raj Ramazani’s header and Solomon Mano’s cross assisted the home team in sealing the victory and qualifying for the next round.
Their next FA Cup match is not until February, meaning the Whites can turn their attention entirely to the Premier League. championship and ensure they do not lose their place in the automatic promotion quota.
The West Yorkshire side are currently one point ahead of Sheffield United and Burnley in second and third place in the Championship, meaning they have little room for maneuver at the top of the table.
Daniel WakeAs part of the upcoming three games, the team will face top-half sides Sheffield Wednesday, Norwich City and Burnley, and they will need to seize their chances to retain their top two spots.
The January transfer window also provides Leeds with an opportunity to strengthen their squad ahead of upcoming fixtures, with the club reportedly eyeing a Championship star this week.
Leeds United target Championship defender
According to Leeds United NewsVersatile Plymouth Argyle defender Barry Mumba has emerged as a target for the Championship leaders this month.
The Whites have reportedly sent scouts to watch the former England youth international play in the second tier this season, and they also watched him play in Saturday’s 1-0 FA Cup win over Brentford. Contest.
win in the house 9 of his 14 duels He did not carry the ball once against the Premier League side, helping his side keep a clean sheet, suggesting Leeds’ scouts are likely to be impressed by what they see.
The outlet adds that Leeds are now considering signing the 23-year-old star to bolster Falke’s options at full-back ahead of the second half of the season.
Mumba is also a player the German manager is already familiar with from his time at Norwich City. Falk once described He was called “outstanding”signed the defender from Sunderland in the summer of 2020.
The British dynamo continues Play nine times Played for the Canaries first team and made his Premier League debut under the current Leeds United manager in the 2021/22 season.
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Ironically, Farke could sign Mumba this month as an upgrade on another full-back he signed for Leeds, Sam Byram, after working with him at Carrow Road.
Sam Byram’s performance at Leeds United
The experienced defender returns to Elland Road in the summer of 2023 for a second spell with West Yorkshire and with the manager who signed him from West Ham ahead of the 2019/20 season Join the Canarian team.
His versatility has been particularly useful to the Whites over the past 18 months or so, as he ability to play He is comfortable playing at right-back, centre-back and left-back, allowing him to fill gaps in the backline when needed.
The 31-year-old Played 33 times During the regular season last season, he contributed two goals and one assist in the British Championship, while mainly playing at left back.
Byram followed up Started 11 of 21 games His appearances in the second tier so far this season show that he is still an important member of the team.
|
24/25 tournament |
Sam Byram |
|---|---|
|
Number of appearances |
twenty one |
|
Assist |
1 |
|
Key passes in every game |
0.3 |
|
Steals + interceptions per game |
1.7 |
|
Duel success rate |
57% |
As you can see from the table above, the former Norwich City man offers no creativity at full-back and is far from outstanding defensively, averaging less than two tackles and interceptions per game combined.
By agreeing a deal this month to bring Mumba to Elland Road from Plymouth, Farke could upgrade Byram from a defensive and attacking perspective.
Why Leeds United should sign Barry Mumba
Firstly, the 23-year-old talent is eight years younger than Byram, which means Leeds United can sign him as a long-term investment or as a short-term upgrade for the team.
Farke, as he did during his time at Norwich, could look to develop Mumba and help him fulfill his potential over the next few years, turning him into a valuable asset compared to the current
His performances in the Plymouth Championship this season have shown that he could be a significant upgrade over Byram from a defensive perspective, as shown in the table below.
|
23/24 Championship |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Number of appearances |
twenty one |
25 |
|
Steals + interceptions per game |
1.7 |
3.0 |
|
gap between games |
1.0 |
1.8 |
|
Number of duels won per game |
2.8 |
5.0 |
|
Key passes in every game |
0.3 |
0.6 |
|
Statistics via Sofascore |
||
The former Sunderland and Norwich starlet could provide more defensive protection while, like Byram, being able to play at left-back or right-back to cover both sides by winning tackles and duels as well as clearing and intercepting. side flanks.
Mumba also had the potential to provide more at the top end of the pitch as part of a dominant team, but he was unable to show that in a struggling Plymouth side, while the current Leeds player, as mentioned earlier, It doesn’t offer much help in this regard. respect.
The flying defender scored in the 2022/23 season as they won the league title Scored 6 goals and provided 7 assists In 37 starts for the Pilgrims, it was shown that he can be an attack-minded full-back who can make an impact in the final third.
Falke could therefore provide a significant upgrade to Byram by signing Mumba, helping him rediscover his attacking talents while maintaining the defensive prowess he has excelled at at Plymouth this season.
Relevant
The club now need to act on their interest in the Championship star and come up with a deal to bring him to Elland Road before next month’s deadline passes.
