Phil Hay shares Jesse Marsch verdict on Mateusz Klich

Jesse Marsch believes Mateusz Klich is “still a big part” of his plans at Leeds United this season but has confirmed there is a request for the midfielder, according to Phil Hay.

The 32-year-old Poland international has been linked with a move from Elland Road in January and according to recent reports (Thursday 22 December) a move to Wayne Rooney’s side DC United was ‘95%’ completed. [Sebastien Denis]

However, Marsch may have put a spanner in the works when he admitted in a press conference on Thursday (December 22) that Klich was still a key asset for him and he is reluctant to let him go in the new year.

As reported by Hay, the American said: “There was a request for Mateusz, but from all sides we’re still cautious if we think it might be time for him to go. He was still very important here.

“One of the interesting things is that he’s played the fifth most games for me since he’s been here. 25 out of 28 games since I’ve been here.

“To me he’s one of my favorite personalities I’ve ever coached and we have a really good relationship. I’m not sure if it’s time for him to go.

“The 25 out of 28 games weren’t all starts and I know sometimes players want to play a little bit more. We had a good dialogue about his role within the team. That’s not necessarily set in stone.

“He’s a guy I still really like and we think he’s still a big part of this team.”

Decision until Klich

Although Marsch wants Klich to stay at the club, the decision is certainly up to the player and how much football he wants to play weekly.

Los Blancos would be foolish to let Klich go without a fight as the midfielder is a huge asset both in the dressing room and on the pitch. He was one of the first names on the squad list during Marcelo Bielsa’s promotion season and has been omnipresent since their return to the top flight.

Whether the legs have slowed down is still a matter of debate, but Marsch apparently wants him to stay at the club.

If Klich still believes he has a realistic chance of returning to the Polish national team, he may well decide that a departure from Elland Road is the best way to improve those chances.

Either way, the midfielder has been a monumental figure in Leeds’ recent triumphs and he will be remembered by fans for years to come.

In other Leeds news, stillr attacker picks up a muscle injury ahead of Manchester City clash