Leeds United have tabled a bid for Everton defender Matthew Pennington as they step up their attempt to win the race for his signature, according to the Yorkshire Evening Post.
The regional newspaper claim Marcelo Bielsa’s outfit are one of a number of Championship clubs who have lodged loan offers for the defender who spent last season at Elland Road.
The Yorkshire Evening Post report Leeds are locked in negotiations with Everton after their new boss Marcelo Bielsa gave the green light for him to go out on loan for the upcoming campaign.
Good move for Leeds?
The jury is out on Pennington, even though Leeds fans had a good look at him last season, when he was third choice behind Pontus Jansson and Liam Cooper. Aged 23 and good enough to be handed a three-year contract by Everton in May, the centre-back has pedigree and class, but his performances were mixed as he struggled to consistently perform in the Championship battleground. Niggling injuries certainly didn’t help. But the Leeds faithful expected more from a product of one of the Premier League’s biggest spenders of recent years. Were he to return, they would demand an improvement on his 2017-18 performances.
This Is Futbol rating 5/10
Likely to happen?
It is now looking more likely than not that Pennington will return to Elland Road for a second spell, given the player is available, he is familar with the Leeds set-up and the rivals for his signature are not financial powerhouses. Leeds are hardly Championship big spenders but even they have the muscle to out-bid the likes of Wigan Athletic.
This Is Futbol rating 8/10