OPINION
Leeds United are making a big mistake by pushing through a deal to sign Matthew Pennington.
That now looks very likely – and possibly by 5pm today – after reliable site Football Insider reported this morning (Thursday) that United are set to succeed in their pursuit to capture the Everton defender on a second consecutive loan deal.
It is said that Pennington has made it clear he wants to re-join Leeds after snubbing interest from their second-tier rivals Blackburn Rovers and Wigan Athletic.
Leeds coup? Not quite. On the face of it, capturing a 23-year-old who was handed a new contract by Everton in May should be smart business.
But there was no sign last season that Pennington is the answer to Leeds’ need for a senior centre-back who has the class and pedigree to be a key member of the team’s promotion challenge.
It is a measure of the status of the defender that he would join as third choice behind Pontus Jansson and skipper Liam Cooper, who was outstanding in Marcelo Bielsa’s hugely impressive first league match last weekend.
Quite why Leeds are bothering is something of a mystery.
Pennington is mobile and a relatively commanding presence at 6ft 1in (source: Transfermarkt), and is at an age where he should be able to dominate in the Championship, particularly given his Premier League credentials.
But the Evertonian’s debut campaign was a disappointment, beset by injury and average performances in which he did little to suggest he can thrive in 2018-19.