Noel Whelan has suggested that Leeds United will need to find an upgrade on Pablo Hernandez in the summer – providing they win promotion.
The Spaniard is currently in his fourth full season at Elland Road and he has established himself as one of the top players for the club in that time, scoring 33 goals and contributing 36 assists in 150 games. His productivity increased significantly under Marcelo Bielsa last season as he hit double figures for both and he was named as the Whites Player of the Year.
Even though he has struggled to maintain those extremely high standards, with Hernandez registering six goals and assists apiece this season, he has still been a regular under Bielsa, featuring in 28 games. However, Whelan suggested to Football Insider that at 35, the attacking midfielder would not be able to cut it in the Premier League, although he acknowledged it will take a big sum to find a suitable replacement.
“You have Pablo Hernandez coming to the back end of his career and he is the one player that can produce that bit of brilliance. He is a standout player and he will need replacing.
Will Pablo Hernandez be good enough for the Premier League next season?
Yes
No
“It will cost you money to get a player like Pablo Hernandez in his prime but it does make the difference. To complement that, you need a striker to get on the end of his passes and crosses from wide areas. That is going to cost money.”
Given the quality the former Swansea man has shown over the years, it’s a claim that is at best going to be divisive among the Leeds fan base. Either way, they will be hoping Hernandez gets a chance to show his talents in the Premier League and that looks likely, with the Yorkshire outfit seven-points clear in the race for automatic promotion with just nine games left to play.
Despite his age, Leeds clearly feel Hernandez has a lot to offer as he is contracted to stay at Elland Road until the summer of 2022.