OPINION
Leeds United should be prepared to do everything they can to ensure they seal a move for Brentford enforcer Yoann Barbet this summer.
French outlet L’Equipe report that Barbet is a target for Marcelo Bielsa’s side ahead of next season, with the Frenchman out of contract at Brentford this summer.
Leeds missed out on promotion to the Premier League this campaign, after finishing third at the end of the regular Championship season, before losing 4-3 on aggregate to Derby County in the play-off semi-finals after losing the second leg 4-2 at Elland Road on Wednesday.
Bielsa, if he remains in charge of Leeds, will be aiming to add more quality and depth to his squad during the summer transfer window, so that can he help the Whites push for promotion to the Premier League again next term.
One of the main reasons Leeds ultimately fell short this season, despite being top of the Championship table at Christmas, was due to lack of squad depth and injuries suffered to key players at vital times.
Those two factors caught up with Bielsa’s side right in the crucial period at the end of the season, with Leeds sitting in second place in the Championship table with four matches remaining, but the Whites then lost three of their final four fixtures to drop down to third.
This summer Leeds will need to make sure they do all they can to strengthen their squad and ensure the same thing does not happen again next season.
Therefore, a move for Barbet would be a very good option for Bielsa’s side, with the versatile 26-year-old providing tactical flexibility due to his ability to play comfortably at both centre-back and left-back positions, meaning he would be able to cover for injured players in either area.
There is also the chance that Leeds could potentially lose defender Pontus Jansson, with former Whites striker Noel Whelan suggesting that he believes the Sweden international could be sold this summer in an interview with Football Insider.
That means that Leeds would need to find anther experienced Championship defender to fill that gap, which Barbet would be able to offer having made 108 appearances for Brentford since joining in 2015 from Chamois Niortais.
Given Barbet’s availability on a free transfer Leeds will have to act fast to make sure they secure his signature, with the Frenchman the type of player the club needs to once again mount a promotion challenge next season.