Former Leeds United attacker Noel Whelan doubts the Whites can cope with the loss of Samuel Saiz.
Marcelo Bielsa signed off on Saiz returning to Spain on loan ahead of the January transfer window opening after the creative midfielder grew unsettled in England.
The Whites have since been linked with numerous options to add creativity on the wings, such as Swansea’s Daniel James, and former Leeds star Whelan would highly recommend a move is made as he doubts Izzy Brown can succeed in the Championship.
An injury has already kept Brown out for most of the season after joining Bielsa’s squad in the summer on a season-long loan from Chelsea – so much so that he is yet to make his Leeds debut.
Brown is at least nearing full fitness after ninety minutes in a reserve game last week, but Whelan is still far from impressed.
The former midfielder told BBC Radio Leeds, as quoted by Inside Futbol, as saying: “Izzy Brown [is the replacement to Saiz] but he’s not fit yet, apparently, and is he going to be the answer to that one? I am not so sure because he’s played hardly any football in a year.
“Under 23 games to get up to speed are still not the same as Championship level.”