Leeds United are likely to sign a centre-back before the transfer window shuts, according to Phil Hay.
The Yorkshire Evening Post correspondent and United expert explained in a Twitter exchange with a Leeds fan that he anticipates the club will recruit another central defender this summer.
Hay is convinced that new manager Marcelo Bielsa has identified Pontus Jansson and Liam Cooper as the first-choice centre-back pairing and it “might be difficult” to sign a third senior defender willing to provide cover rather than join as a first choice.
I do think they’ll do one. Just can’t see how they’ll head into the summer without cover. Have seen the links to Denayer but don’t know about that.
— Phil Hay (@PhilHayYEP) August 1, 2018
the issue is, Bielsa looks to be going with Jansson and Cooper. Might be difficult to sign anyone who would want to come in as first choice.
— Phil Hay (@PhilHayYEP) August 1, 2018
OPINION
To say Leeds are crying out for a new centre-back is something of an understatement. Everton defender Matthew Pennington supplemented Jansson and Cooper last season, but he has returned to his parent club and Leeds have also loaned out Paudie O’Connor, who ended last season in the first team. That leaves just Jansson and Cooper as the only orthodox centre-backs of proven Championship calibre, although full-backs Luke Ayling and Gaetano Berardi can provide cover for the position. Jansson is a rock and one of the best in his position in the division, but he needs able support, and question marks remain over the error-prone Cooper. Leeds have added to their ranks with a number of key signings this week, most notably striker Patrick Bamford, but the squad still looks very thin, particularly given the exit of Ronaldo Vieira. The club need a commanding and reliable centre-back, and are running out of time to get one.