OPINION
Leeds desperately needed to add a centre-back to their squad in their hunt for promotion before the end of the summer window, and should have beaten Birmingham to the signing of Harlee Dean.
West London Sport claimed that the Whites were interested in the 26-year-old this summer, with Sheffield Wednesday and Hull City also said to be keen on the former Brentford defender.
However, Harry Redknapp decided to leap to the front of the queue and land the commanding centre-back before anyone else on Wednesday, in one of many late signings made by the Blues.
Leeds are light at centre-back, which has seen Irish defender Conor Shaughnessy come into the first team at times to cover the lack of options to manager Thomas Christiansen at the heart of the defence.
Everton loanee Matthew Pennington suffered an ankle injury in the first game of the season, landing awkwardly as he leaped into the air to win a header.
It leaves just Liam Cooper and Pontus Jansson as first-team options at the heart of the defence, with Shaughnessy showing a lack of experience in his first appearances for the club while Luke Ayling remains at right-back.
Offering an abundance of Championship experience, leadership at the back due to his time as Brentford captain and at a knockdown of just £2million which saw him sign for Birmingham, would have made him the perfect signing.
Dean has 122 second-tier appearances to his name after joining Brentford from Dagenham & Redbridge in the summer of 2012, but the powerful defender showed his best last season.
The defender captained the Bees side in all of his 45 league and cup encounters, scoring three times, providing three assists and helping Dean Smith’s outfit keep 12 clean sheets.
Birmingham’s number 12 would have been the perfect signing at Elland Road to provide cover at the heart of defence, but Christiansen will have to rely on the versatility of Ayling and the up-and-coming Shaughnessy if injury strikes.