Why Cameron Brannagan would be a fantastic signing for Leeds United
According to The Telegraph’s Mike McGrath, Leeds United are eyeing a deal for Oxford midfielder Cameron Brannagan.
Brannagan, 23, came through the ranks of Liverpool’s youth academy. He made his senior Reds debut in September 2015 against Bordeaux in the Europa League while he was a reserve player.
His loan move to Fleetwood Town did not help him much and was eventually sold to Oxford United in the winter of 2018.
Since then, he has been a consistent member under Karl Robinson and has taken his game to a higher level in League One. He has attracted interest with his form at Kassam Stadium, carrying on from last season when he was crowned the players’ player of the year.
The former Liverpool boy is currently in his second season with Oxford and has made 89 appearances for the club so far. He has scored 13 goals and provided 9 assists for the Yellows and looks to be going from strength to strength each day.
Meanwhile, Leeds are pushing for a return to the Premier League and are currently on top of the Championship table, level on points with West Brom. They have put in some fine displays this term and under Marcelo Bielsa, they have turned out to be a strong unit.
However, with half the season yet to be played, the manager must look to keep all his players fit so that they can play each game with the same determination.
Their attacking unit, which has the likes of Patrick Bramford, loanee Jack Harrison, Pablo Hernandez and Helder Costa, have led the attack brilliantly so far.
In the same way, the defensive unit has contributed immensely to their cause and have conceded just 21 goals in 26 league games, second-lowest in the second-tier. But the manager has been deprived of depth in his midfield ranks.
Polish international Mateusz Klich has been a regular in the squad, playing in all 26 league games, whereas Adam Forshaw and Jamie Shackleton have not been required much. Other midfielders Eunan O’ Kane and Mateusz Bogusz are yet to feature in the league.
Therefore, with such limitation, an immediate reinforcement must be made by Bielsa to see his side take control in the best possible way. And Cameron Brannagan would fit the bill perfectly.
The 23-year-old has featured in 24 games for the Yellows this campaign across all competitions and in the process, has contributed with 7 goals and 3 assists.
He has the potential to succeed at a higher level and at such a tender age, Brannagan has immense experience in English football. A player blessed with technique, vision and an eye for goal, he has been in scintillating form, operating as a No.10. He’s got the ability to play out wide and even as a deep-lying playmaker.
The England U20 international’s stature and playing style has been compared to that of Joe Allen but Brannagan is a more forward-thinking player, according to the Telegraph.
The video below shows his impact in the middle of the park and what he could bring to Leeds if a deal goes through.
Read more
- Why Matej Vydra would be a fantastic signing for Leeds United
- Why Fran Sol could be a smart addition to Leeds United’s ranks
- Why Luke Freeman would be a smart signing for Leeds United
Verdict
Bielsa must not hesitate to sign the youngster, who can surely bring a lot of fluidity to the Leeds squad. He could also go on to develop himself under the Argentine tactician and make a name for himself.