OPINION
With Leeds fans still reeling from an extraordinary three weeks of transfer activity, the latest update is that they need to be braced for plenty more arrivals.
New manager Thomas Christiansen has revealed there will be no let-up in the recruitment drive as he continues his overhaul of the squad that finished seventh under Garry Monk last season.
Most of the Leeds arrivals so far are midfielders or attacking players, with Samuel Saiz, Vurnon Anita, Ezgjan Alioski, Mateusz Klich, Caleb Ekuban and Madger Gomes or slotting into one of those two categories.
With 2016-17 loanees Pontus Jansson and Hadi Sacko converting to permanent deals, the only new player who is even remotely defensive is goalkeeper Werder Bremen.
Given that Jansson and Liam Cooper are the only two senior centre-backs and Gaetano Berardi the only left-back with extensive first-team experience, Christiansen has explained that his shopping in the summer market will now focus on strengthening the backline.
He told the Yorkshire Evening Post: “We do need to strengthen in the defence. That is a priority now.”
Leeds have been linked with signing a number of centre-backs in recent weeks and it has been reported that progress is being made on two new signings as part of a £4.5million raid that would provide Leeds with proven defensive strength ahead of the new campaign.
This Is Futbol analyses one of those players among five centre-backs who are available, relatively inexpensive and would be the perfect partners for Janssen to help Leeds storm to promotion next season: