Leeds United are working on a deal to beat Wolves and Torino to the signing of Club Brugge left-back Laurens De Bock after tabling a contract offer to the player, according to the Mail.
The newspaper claimed on their transfer blog on Sunday (12.28pm) that Leeds have agreed the terms of a four-and-a-half year deal with the 25-year-old, but have not yet settled on a fee with his Belgian employers.
The Mail report that Leeds are in the market for a new left-back and there is a possibility that Cameron Borthwick-Jackson could leave this month.
The big name arrival from Manchester United in the summer has failed to make an impression since joining on a season-long loan and has attracted interest from Reading.
Good move for Leeds?
De Bock would be a mighty fine signing for Leeds and an ideal solution to what has become an increasingly glaring problem position this season. Gaetano Berardi is the first choice left-back but he is a right-back by trade and his limitations on his less favoured flank has become clear as the campaign has wore on. Borthwick-Jackson was given a rare start in the FA Cup defeat at Newport on Sunday but he was miles off the pace and was hauled off after an hour in a clear sign that Thomas Christiansen was unhappy with his performance. Former Belgium Under-21 international De Bock has made 177 Brugge appearances, played in the Champions League and Europa League, and has the kind of pedigree and experience that Leeds are crying out for. It goes without saying that he would walk straight into the United starting XI. Moreover, they can offer something the player currently doesn’t have, a regular starting role.
This Is Futbol rating: 8/10
Likely to happen?
There is a strong possibility that Man United and Leeds will terminate Borthwick-Jackson’s loan this month and that he either returns to his parent club or another Championship team. This will free up space in the squad and on the wage bill for Leeds to push through the signing of De Bock. It is encouraging for the Yorkshire giants that personal terms have been agreed, but they have not yet pushed a deal over the line as the fee is yet to be settled.
This Is Futbol rating: 7/10