TBR View: Leeds need to keep hold of Tyler Roberts, amid reported Derby interest

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Leeds United attacker Tyler Roberts is being linked with Championship side Derby County, but the club should squash any notion of the player moving and ensure he stays at Elland Road.

The Times claimed earlier this week that Derby are showing an interest in the 21-year-old and are monitoring his situation.

Despite the fact that the Whites have signed Valencia forward Rodrigo Moreno, it makes no sense to get rid of Roberts and he’s got to be part of the squad going into the new campaign.

Leeds are preparing for life back in the Premier League and manager Marcelo Bielsa has got them promoted with a close-knit squad of players, so adding a few top quality players alongside that is the way to go.

Roberts did play a role in the promotion last season with four goals in 23 league matches and could now be offered a route back to the Championship, but he deserves his shot in the top-flight and his rotten luck with injuries last year needs to be considered.

Bielsa is clearly a fan of the versatile attacker, as he described him as a “big character” earlier last season and that’s the kind of trait Leeds will need in the Premier League.

“Tyler is a player who likes being with the ball. He has a big character because he wants the ball. He always receives the ball in one place where it’s more probable that he’ll lose it than keep it,” Bielsa told Leeds Live last October.

Roberts is unlikely to be a starter every week following Leeds’ return to the Premier League, but he’s got an arrogance on the ball that shows his confidence and people seem to overlook the talented youngster is aged just 21.

He’s got the ability to play at striker with his pace and work-rate, but equally he’s looked quite impressive slotting into an attacking midfield role under Bielsa.

The Welshman fits the mould of what Bielsa has been building at the club and the best should still be around the corner for him, so any Derby interest should be forgotten.