The departure of Pontus Jansson from Leeds was a surprise one when it finally came.
There were always rumours about his exit but when it came it was out of the blue and rapid. He was sold to Brentford and he said afterwards that Leeds needed the money and had cashed in.
The line from Leeds was that he was seen as a disruptive influence.
Either way, his departure leaves a hole at the back and one we assumed would be filled with a new signing. However, according to former Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Phil Hay, that might not be the case.
Responding to a Leeds fan on Twitter who asked if there was a defender incoming Hay said, “No sign of one at the moment”.
no sign of one at the moment.
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) July 16, 2019
The team is in Australia at present and by the time they get back there will be little more than two weeks before the start of the season.
Given that manager Marcelo Bielsa likes to bed his players in thoroughly before unleashing them in the first team, it would suggest that he’s happy with what he’s got.
Fans might think otherwise. Jansson made the PFA Championship Team of the Season last campaign and he’ll be a real miss. Leeds found themselves short at centre-back last season – even with Jansson – with both Kalvin Philips and Luke Ayling having to deputise in the centre of defence. Aapo Halme played there four times but he’s been sold this summer too.
Ben White has come in and now looks set to play a fairly central role for Leeds and he’s a ball-playing defender who will fit in well but is untested at this level.
Outside of Liam Cooper and White, Bielsa can call on Gaetano Berardi, who spent much of last season injured, Conor Shaughnessy (who struggled at Hearts on loan last season after making one appearance under Bielsa) and Pascal Struijk who is yet to make a senior appearance.
We think Leeds are crying out for a leader at the back, an experienced centre-back who can help guide the team back to the Premier League.
If Bielsa doesn’t feel the need to bring another player in, we’d be really concerned.