OPINION
Leeds United must make a last-gasp swoop to sign Stoke City midfielder Darren Fletcher after it was reported that the 34-year-old has been made available by Nathan Jones.
Sky Sports has claimed that the Potters will listen to offers for the former Manchester United and West Brom midfielder, who has only made 12 appearances in all competitions this season for the Staffordshire club and hasn’t featured in any of Jones’ matchday squads since he became manager at the Bet365.
Leeds could do with the extra depth adding to their midfield after Samuel Saiz and Lewis Baker left Elland Road at the start of this month and Fletcher could be a superb short-term addition for Marcelo Bielsa as he aims to take the Yorkshire giants back to the Premier League in his first season in English football.
The Whites need some more experience adding to their side as well, and that is a claim echoed by Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson, who said on Super Soccer Saturday at the weekend that the club is “crying out for a little bit of experience”.
Fletcher would be a great fit in what has been a bit of a problem area for Leeds lately as well.
Adam Forshaw has been in poor form when playing in the holding midfield role and Fletcher could be a major upgrade on him thanks to his wealth of experience, having earned 80 caps for Scotland, 341 Premier League appearances, five league titles and a Champions League title.
No one at Elland Road can boast that CV, not even Kiko Casilla, who has been signed from Real Madrid this month.
Fletcher’s impact could be very important in helping Leeds get back into the Premier League.
He is a born-winner, a leader and most importantly, he could slot straight into Bielsa’s starting line-up whenever Kalvin Phillips is played in the centre of the defence.
United are bound to have more injuries as the season progresses and Fletcher might be the one signing that helps get this team back into England’s top-flight for the first time in 15 years.