Why Leeds United should part ways with Tyler Roberts in January
According to claims from Football Insider (h/t Derbyshire Live), Leeds United attacker Tyler Roberts has emerged as a potential target for Championship outfit Derby County.
The Rams, who are among the lowest scorers in the second-tier, are eyeing up some fresh additions to add more firepower to their attack in the January window. It has been claimed that Wayne Rooney’s side are long-standing admirers of the Welsh international.
Leeds, though, have set a clear condition as far as Roberts’ future is concerned. As per the report, the Whites would only consider selling the 21-year-old in the winter window if they manage to sign a replacement first.
Profile
Tyler Roberts rose through the youth ranks of West Brom and represented the club across various age groups. However, he just managed a solitary top-flight appearance for the Baggies, spending time on loan at Oxford United, Shrewsbury Town and Walsall in the third-tier.
The Welshman completed a permanent transfer to Leeds United in 2018 and went on to start 20 games in the Championship, registering 3 goals and 5 assists in the process.
The 21-year-old played a bit-part role, scoring 4 times as the Whites secured promotion to the Premier League at the end of last season. Roberts, though, has found regular minutes hard to come by in the Premier League this term. The youngster has been limited to just 8 league appearances so far, with only two of them coming as starts.
Roberts doesn’t look ready for the Premier League
The arrival of Rodrigo Moreno from Valencia in the summer has pushed Tyler Roberts down the pecking order at Elland Road. With Patrick Bamford continuing to flourish as the spearhead of the club’s attack, opportunities have been few and far between for the Welsh international in the Premier League this season.
Truth be told, Roberts’ lack of playtime isn’t just down to the presence of more accomplished players like Bamford and Rodrigo in the ranks. The 21-year-old has struggled to make a transition to the top-flight, offering very little in the final third even when he has been afforded game time by Marcelo Bielsa.
Putting things into perspective, Leeds United should be open to the prospect of parting ways with the youngster next month. A potential departure for Roberts in the winter market would somewhat deal a blow to the club’s squad depth in attack, considering that the Whites are already short of cover in several departments. Signing a replacement, though, should be enough to compensate for the Welshman’s exit.
Leeds, in fact, need to bring in an upgrade on Roberts to take the pressure off Bamford and Rodrigo. With fixtures set to come thick and fast during the second half of the campaign, depth and quality in attack could well be a deciding factor.
Given that the former West Brom prospect hasn’t done an awful lot to convince the manager of his top-flight credentials, the Whites should scour the market for a better player to ensure healthy competition for places.
Verdict
Tyler Roberts has often been touted as an exciting prospect in England but he doesn’t look ready to play a big role in the top-flight just yet. A January move to Derby County would make sense for him given that he probably needs a bit more polishing in the Championship to take his game to the next level.
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