Leeds United advanced to the fourth round FA Cup on Saturday after a 1-0 win over Harrogate Town in League Two at Elland Road.
The Whites secured victory thanks to a second-half goal from Largie Ramazani, who headed in after Manor Solomon’s cross, as they struggled to break down the lower league line-up for most of the game.
It was far from a perfect performance Daniel FarkeThe team and the German head coach may not have been happy with some of the individual performances shown by some of the fringe players who needed to step up.
One Leeds man who didn’t make the most of his big chance to shine was centre-forward Mateo Joseph, in the absence of Joel Piroe and Patrick Bamford.
Mateo Joseph’s Leeds are struggling
The Spanish U21 representative had the opportunity to show Farke that he deserves more minutes and a start in the championship in the second part of the season, but he did not use it.
Journalist Adam Pope praised the striker’s feat during the game, but described it its effect as “wasteful”which has been a recurring theme for him this season.
LeedsLive awarded him a rating 5/10 for his portrayal and noted that the striker ‘struggled’ with the physicality of Harrogate’s back three.
|
24/25 championship |
Mateo Josip |
|---|---|
|
Appearances |
26 |
|
It starts |
11 |
|
xG |
4.30 |
|
Objectives |
2 |
|
Big chances were missed |
6 |
As you can see in the table above, the academy graduate has been incredibly wasteful in the second division this season, underperforming his xG tally by more than two goals.
This has been a constant problem for the striker and has prevented him from being a regular starter ahead of Piroe, and this latest ‘wasteful’ display means Farke must surely enter the market to sign Mergim Berisha.
Why Leeds should sign Mergim Berisha
It was recently announced that Leeds are interested in a deal to sign the Hoffenheim striker, who could be available on an 18-month loan with an option to make it permanent next year.
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Berisha, who is described as “clinical finisher” Football Chatters analyst, has only started five games in the Bundesliga since the start of last season due to an ACL injury in 2023.
The £56k a week the forward’s form prior to that lengthy break suggests there is quality for him to come in and offer more to the club moving forward than Joseph in the second half of the season, if Farke can help him return to his best.
In the 2022/23 Bundesliga campaign, the German national team player scored nine goals of 8.13 xG in 23 appearances for Augsburg, which speaks to his ability as a finisher in Europe’s top league.
If Leeds can agree a loan deal for the 26-year-old striker, he could be an excellent addition to the squad, provided the striker can return to his 2022/23 form. by playing regular football again.
Joseph’s performance against Harrogate, and his performances in the Championship in general, suggest that a new striker may be needed, and Berisha seems to fit the bill.
