Thomas Christiansen is planning to use Vurnon Anita at full-back in the Leeds team in the upcoming season, according to the Yorkshire Evening Post.
The regional newspaper claim that new manager Thomas Christiansen has earmarked the Holland international, 28, for a defensive role even though he has said that his preferred position is in central midfield.
The Yorkshire Evening Post report that headline signing Anita is “expected” to slot in at full-back, although it does not specify whether that will be on the right or left side of the back four.
Christiansen’s plan appears to throw into doubt the futures of two Leeds mainstays of the team that finished seventh under Garry Monk last season, Luke Ayling and Gaetano Berardi.
Ayling was the first-choice right-back for the entire season and was widely considered one of the team’s most consistently impressive performers following his arrival from Bristol City last summer.
Berardi was on the sidelines for the first half of 2016-17 but made such a huge impact when deputising for the injured Charlie Taylor in the unfamiliar role of left-back from December onwards that he continued to start even when the senior man returned in late March.
Leeds have not signed any full-backs this summer despite Taylor’s move to Premier League club Burnley and a recruitment drive that has brought nine permanent signings.
The Yorkshire Evening Post report that Anita played on the right side of defence against North Ferriby last week and is set to remain in defence.
Given the Dutchman’s calibre and top-level experience at Newcastle, who he left when his contract expired last month, it is inconceivable that he has been signed not to be be a first-team regular.
There is the possibility he could be used at left-back, or that Christiansen’s plans to shift the versatile Ayling across to the left side of defence.