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Liam Cooper now looks to be out for 2 to 3 weeks with injury following his pre-match injury at the Liberty Stadium. Pontus Jansson stayed in Leeds with back pain and we do not yet know how long he will be unavailable. Many Leeds United supporters were constantly asking journalists about a centre-half signing this summer, and every reply was the same: Bielsa doesn’t seem bothered but the club are trying anyway.
Now Leeds definitely need at least one in the door and West Ham’s Reece Oxford is the latest name in the papers.
Bielsa giving the impression that he doesn't need another centre-back. Says Jansson's injury isn't serious, they're not sure on Cooper yet but that he trusts Ayling, Berardi and Shaughnessy. Says he doesn't know why Cooper's injury would lead to questions re: signing another CB.
— Phil Hay (@PhilHayYEP) August 21, 2018
Borussia Mönchengladbach took the 19 year old on loan last season, playing eight matches for the Bundesliga club. He’s been captaining the West Ham United under-23s while also leading out the England youth side, earning 35 caps from the under 16s and upwards.
Oxford has shown great comfort on the ball, a skill crucial to how Bielsa likes to run his back line. He spreads himself wide when the ball is with his team which also mimics the Leeds defence. Oxford is highly skilled with both feet and his ball-playing skills are excellent while of course his defending is fantastic, he would be a very solid choice for Bielsa in his choosing of centre-halves.
Oxford is another young, English, Premier League talent who has a point to prove following somewhat unsuccessful loan move elsewhere. He needs game-time and would definitely be worth giving an opportunity to play. The Championship is perhaps the best league for teams to send their players to prove themselves and to experience the most competitive and perhaps the toughest league in world football.