Given Leeds United’s game plan under Daniel Farke, midfielders who can stop counterattacks will always be useful.
Leeds typically push their full-backs high up the pitch, leaving their backline vulnerable to quick transitions.
As such, the burden on the likes of Ethan Ampadu or Ao Tanaka to stop the opponent penetrating through Farke’s backline is often very enormous. Farke was not happy with Tanaka after Leeds’ drew with Blackburn Rovers on New Years Day, the Japan international perhaps guilty of switching off in the lead up to the corner from which Danny Batth bundled in a stoppage time equaliser.
Would Leeds United have conceded in the identical situation with Dario Essugo on the pitch?
That, of course, is entirely hypothetical.
However, with Leeds apparently looking to capture the Sporting Lisbon teenager on a £6 million loan-to-buy deal this month, Essugo’s statistics speak for themselves.
Leeds United target Dario Essugo has really excellent statistics.
Currently on loan at La Liga club Las Palmas, Essugo is the second-best Under-23 player in Europe’s major leagues in terms of ‘ball recoveries’.
The 19-year-old averages 2.4 tackles and 1.9 interceptions per game in Spain. While Essugo’s four yellow cards from 12 starts suggest that his timing might be improved, he appears to be a perfect match for a Leeds team that would benefit from having an aggressive, ground-covering, ball-winning central midfielder.
When asked about Essugo by Spanish journal Marca, Luis Dias, a technical consultant for the Portuguese Football Federation, couldn’t speak highly enough about him.
He believes the Sporting academy product stands out not only for his physicality, but also for his maturity on the field.
“[Essugo impressed me because of his] physical condition, but above all his calmness and personality with the ball,” Dias tells me. “He always drew our attention. But the transition from 15 to 16 years was a massive explosion.
“He jumped three categories [in the youth team].”
Essugo would bring ‘strength and tackling’ to Elland Road.
According to the Breaking the Lines website, Essugo has the qualities to ‘take him to the very top of the game in his position’.
“His profile falls under the defensive playmaker role, which specialises in being defensively secure and sound in his distribution of the ball,” they add.
“What jumps out most about Dario is his physical abilities, as he is very well balanced, has good pace, and the flair to power past opponents with the ball.
“Dario has personally improved his defensive positioning, with his strength and tackling being among his best attributes, each week looking more like a complete midfielder who can link up play more efficiently along with his sharpened ability on the ball.”
Of course, for Leeds to complete a deal this month, a few dominoes must fall in their favour.
“Several of the long-term injured players are back,” Farke announced during a press conference on Thursday. “Firpo is back.” Illia looks terrific while training. Options are useful, but if you have too many and the group is too large, they can divide the group.
“We have great togetherness, which is why we are the squad that has won the most points; we do not want to jeopardize that spirit inside the group.
“That spirit is more crucial in crunch time, and we are now the best club in the league at the top. If there is a new injury, we will adjust our plans, but for the time being, we anticipate a peaceful January.
