Leeds United star James Justin has become an important player for Daniel Farke after joining the club last summer as a back-up option at first.
The versatile full-back was signed from Leicester City for £10m after the Foxes were relegated from the Premier League at the end of last season, and it initially seemed to be a signing for the depth of the squad.
Jayden Bogle and Gabriel Gudmundsson started the season as the first-choice full-backs in a 4-3-3 formation under the German head coach, which meant that Justin struggled for game time in the opening months of the campaign.
The change in formation to a 3-5-2 or 3-4-2-1 in recent months by Farke has opened the door for the one-cap England international, though, as the manager has played him and Bogle in the same line-up at times.
Why Justin is already better than Bogle at Leeds
Whilst there is now space for both of them to play, as one of them can start the match as one of the three centre-backs or Bogle can play on the right wing, there is a clear favourite emerging on the right side.
Justin, despite starting just ten matches in the Premier League this season, already looks like a better player for the Whites than Bogle and should be the starter if Farke ever moves back to a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 formation in the future.
The versatile star, who recently scored against Everton, has scored one goal and created four ‘big chances’ in his ten starts, whilst also winning 62% of his ground duels and 58% of his aerial battles.
Bogle, meanwhile, has scored one goal and created four ‘big chances’ in 24 Premier League starts, which suggests that he does not offer as much offensive quality as Justin, given that he has the same output from 14 fewer starts.
The former Derby County defender has also lost 54% of his ground duels and 57% of his aerial contests in the top-flight, showing that he has not been as strong in his physical battles as the £10m full-back has been.
Justin, therefore, is even more effective for Leeds than Bogle because of both his offensive and defensive contributions to the team on the right flank, which suggests that it was £10m well spent by the club last summer.
The Leeds star who’s worth more than Bogle and Justin
Despite his recent form, the ex-Leicester star is still valued at around £10m by Transfermarkt, which is more than the £9m that his fellow right-back is valued at.
There is another Leeds full-back who is worth even more than both Bogle and Justin because of his impressive performances on the pitch for the Whites so far this season.
The West Yorkshire outfit swooped to sign Gudmundsson from Lille for a fee of £10m to replace Junior Firpo last summer, and reporter James Marshment recently noted that the Swedish star is “levels above” the former Barcelona defender.
Despite joining for the same fee as Justin, who has also impressed in the Premier League, the ex-Ligue 1 star has seen his value soar above both Justin and Bogle in recent months.
At the time of writing, Gudmundsson is valued at roughly £13m by Transfermarkt, whilst the ex-Leicester defender is valued at £10m and Bogle is valued at £9m.
The Sweden international has started more Premier League games (25) than Bogle (24) and Justin (ten) for Leeds this season, and has won 57% of his ground duels, making 2.9 tackles and interceptions per game at left-back.
Most ground duels won in 25/26 Premier League
Player
Ground duels won
Elliot Anderson
172
Neco Williams
139
Joao Gomes
134
Gabriel Gudmundsson
132
Bukayo Saka
125
Gudmundsson, who ranks fourth in the league for ground duels won, is an exciting player to watch play on the left flank because of his ability to drive at players to bring the team up the pitch, completing 1.3 dribbles per game.
The 26-year-old star has adapted to the Premier League with ease, delivering consistent performances for the Whites throughout the campaign, and still has room to improve and develop in the seasons to come.
Leeds have hit the jackpot with Gudmundsson because he is already worth (£12m) more than his transfer fee (£10m) and is worth more than Bogle and Justin, who have both emerged as regular starters since the formation change, thanks to his displays on the pitch.
Hopefully, there is plenty more to come from the former Lille star and his value will continue to rise in the coming weeks, months, and years at Elland Road.
Related
Daniel Farke without “perfect” Leeds star for Man City clash after injury news
The Whites will be minus his services for a crucial game.