"The missing piece" - Leeds United backed to sign Man City star | OneFootball

Leeds United fan pundit Adam gave a very positive review of the club's interest in a loan move for Manchester City's James McAtee

This article is part of Football League World’s ‘Terrace Talk‘ series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

With Leeds United sat two points adrift of the table's summit, manager Daniel Farke may be thinking about potential additions to his team for the upcoming January transfer window.

Leeds have been excellent in all areas, scoring 24 goals and only conceding nine, but the German manager will want to cement their position and attempt to push for the automatic promotion places.

Rumours arose recently that the Whites may be interested in Manchester City youngster James McAtee.

When questioned about a potential move, our fan pundit Adam Elliott had nothing but good things to say about the attacking midfielder, and would be delighted to see him join the ranks of Farke's side.

Having enjoyed two loans at Sheffield United already, there is sufficient evidence to suggest that James McAtee could thrive in the Championship with Leeds.

The attacking midfielder has been singled out as the key to unlocking defences and capitalising on Leeds' fast transition play.

James McAtee would be an excellent signing for Leeds United

Leeds United fan pundit Adam Elliott was full of praise for James McAtee, and felt that the midfielder would make a real difference at Elland Road.

He highlighted McAtee as exactly the sort of player that Farke's side are after, emphasising that he would be very happy with the signing. Adam said:

"Heading towards January, it is no real surprise to me that the club are looking at James McAtee. He's got quality at this level as he's proven before, and also he's the kind of profile we need most, I would say.

"We've got a lot of players who are quite intense out of possession, or who like the ball to feet to run at the opposition, but we've not got enough who get their head up and look to pass first."

Leeds boast the league's highest average possession with 62.5%, but equally have the division's lowest number of accurate long balls per match, with 17.5.

This potentially demonstrates Adam's point, inferring that Leeds are very good at retaining possession, but defence-splitting passes are something that has eluded them.

It also does not help that Leeds also have the embarrassing title of having the most big chances missed this season with 27.

Their strikers sometimes struggle to finish the opportunities with which they are presented, so acquiring a midfielder who can provide such chances with more regularity will only bode well for the team.

James McAtee possesses the right qualities to slot in at Leeds United

When discussing McAtee's class, Adam highlighted how the qualities he has displayed during loan spells at Sheffield United could fit in perfectly with the team's needs. Our fan pundit noted:

"Despite how well players like Brenden Aaronson have done, we need a passer in the final third to break lines and crack open teams with a moment of inspiration when games are tight. A real, true number 10 to combine with the speed and directness of the attack.

"That really could be the missing piece for me and for Farke's team. In January, that's what I'd be looking at, and James McAtee is certainly a player I think would really improve this side."

A combination of the statistics from McAtee's last season in the Championship demonstrates exactly what Leeds United fans will want to see.

McAtee fell in the top percentile of attacking midfielders for Expected Assists per 90 minutes, despite having a pass accuracy of just 77.5% and making only 25 successful passes per game.

This indicates that McAtee seeks to play low percentage balls, aiming to unlock defences rather than retaining possession. He also registered 12 goal contributions in 21 starts, which is an admirable return.

The evidence shows that McAtee is capable of finding gaps in defences and being a creator for his side.

Leeds are seeking someone who looks to get their head up and unsettle opposition defences, and McAtee may well fall exactly into that bracket.

If his loan signature can be secured by Daniel Farke, there is potential for the attacking midfielder to make a substantial impact at Elland Road.