Jesse Marsch and Leeds United target another USMNT star

Reports have emerged that Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch will again look close to home – or his temporary one at least – in his search for reinforcements ahead of the fast-approaching 2022/23 season.

The Lilywhites have already added three players to their ranks in Bayern Munich’s Marc Roca accompanied by RB Salzburg pair Rasmus Kristensen and Brenden Aaronson.

Marsch has a vast knowledge of both the Bundesliga and Red Bull-owned teams after his time with RB Leipzig in the German top-flight prior to his switch to Elland Road.

The American head coach is preparing to explore that talent pool again in the form of Leipzig centre midfielder and compatriot Tyler Adams, as per Mail Sport.

Adams, a USMNT international teammate of new arrival Aaronson, is a defensive-minded player who can put his hand to the attacking aspects of the game as well.

Hailing from Wappinger, New York, the 23-year-old made the switch to East-Central Germany after progressing through the ranks with New York Red Bulls.

He was fast-tracked into being a regular for his hometown club, tying down a starting spot aged 18 before inevitably attracting the attention of European scouts.

Leeds have turned their attention to Adams due to the uncertainty surrounding first-choice holding midfielder Kalvin Phillips amid links to title holders Manchester City.

How has Tyler Adams’ RB Leipzig career gone?

Tyler Adams in fact enjoyed his best season in the red, white, and blue of Leipzig the one before Marsch’s brief spell in charge of the club.

The 2020/21 campaign saw Adams build upon the limited opportunities afforded to him in the previous first two, making 27 Bundesliga appearances including 21 from the start.

Under now Bayern Munich manager Julian Nagelsmann, Leipzig finished second equalling their best placing and narrowly missed out on a DFB Pokal after losing in the final to Borussia Dortmund.

Adams failed to build on his rise in prominence in the recently concluded 2021/22 season, however, as he slipped below Kevin Kampl and Konrad Laimer in the pecking order.

He saw his standing revert to a peripheral role making just 12 starts within 24 league appearances with an average of 56 minutes per game.

Alike international teammate Christian Pulisic, Adams has played his best football on the international stage thanks in large part to the responsibility bestowed on him.

For USA, the latter tends to anchor a midfield three within a 4-3-3 formation while at club level he is familiar with a double pivot in the centre of a 3-4-3.

What kind of player is Tyler Adams, and is he the right fit for Leeds United?

An industrious midfielder, Tyler Adams can sense danger before it materialises, therefore allowing him to be proactive in his defensive play and go in search of the ball.

Highlight reels exhibit his capability in a sliding challenge, shutting down counter-attacks, but he also possesses the acumen and discipline to play within a mid to low-block – something Leeds will have to deploy at times to combat their propensity to leak goals.

Adams isn’t a defensive-leaning midfielder that shirks responsibility going forward either. Putting his dribbling ability to use, he can not only enforce turnovers but trigger attacks to help his side in transitions.

This is a factor that owes perfectly to Jesse Marsch’s system which, although less extreme than his predecessor Marcelo Bielsa, still focuses on pressing teams before attacking with speed on the break.

In the three months following his appointment, Marsch implemented a double pivot in midfield to provide a base to build from and ultimately protect his back four.

As referenced above, Adams should be adept at this and it is yet to be seen whether the Leeds boss will return to a singular holding midfielder after a preseason to impart his philosophy.

A goalkeeper and striker are next on the list of priority positions for Leeds United regarding recruitment, with Adams and the already confirmed Marc Roca likely enough in the centre of the park.