Jesse Marsch battling to keep unhappy Leeds star as overseas clubs queue up to make January raid
Leeds United face a difficult task in persuading Mateusz Klich to remain at Elland Road beyond the January transfer window, sources have told TEAMtalk.
The Polish star is one of the most popular figures at Elland Road having played a starring role in their promotion campaign. Indeed, Klich hardly missed a minute of Marcelo Bielsa’s first two seasons at the helm, at one stage amassing a run of 92 consecutive appearances.
However, the Whites are now in their third season back in the Premier League and Klich has played an increasingly lesser role.
He made 28 Premier League starts in their first season back, and 26 last season. However, the summer signings of Marc Roca and Tyler Adams have seriously limited Klich’s game-time. And the 32-year-old Pole has yet to start in the Premier League this season.
However, Klich ended up staying and, despite his lack of starts, remains a popular and important part of the Leeds squad. Klich has come off the bench on 11 occasions so far, though that only amounts to 188 minutes in the Premier League.
As a result, Klich missed out on a place in Poland’s World Cup squad, with his lack of regular game-time largely to blame.
That has come as a source of enormous disappointment to the player, who at 32, knows the chance will not come around for him again.
As such, the player is now looking for a route out of Elland Road in January.
TEAMtalk can reveal that, despite his lack of game-time, there are plenty of interest in Klich’s services.
Clubs queuing up to sign Mateusz Klich
Indeed, we can report there is interest in Klich from France, Italy and Germany, with a number of sides lodging interest with the player’s agent.
Some of those enquiries have come on an initial loan basis.
Klich, though, knows he needs to move on from Leeds to give his career a necessary kickstart with the player not first choice under Jesse Marsch.
The Leeds boss, however, is keen to hold on to the Pole amid concerns over the depth of Leeds’ squad size.
His contract at Elland Road, which was extended in summer 2019, is due to expire in summer 2024.
As such, the Whites know that the player’s valuation will decrease with each passing window.
However, Marsch would ideally like Klich to stay until the summer window when a potential replacement can be signed.
The midfielder – a £1.5m signing from FC Twente in summer 2017 – has made 192 appearances for Leeds, scoring 24 goals.
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