Phil Hay believes that Leeds United are in the transfer market for a new left-back this summer.
Bringing in a new fullback was perhaps not very high on the list of Leeds’ priority list this transfer window, however, following the injury to Junior Firpo, which will see him out for around eight weeks, that has now seemingly changed.
Leeds currently have Leif Davis in the squad who can fill in for Firpo but he is the only first-team option in that department so it would be a slight surprise if they didn’t decide to move for another left-back before the window closed.
Hay has confirmed that talks are ongoing behind the scenes to potentially bring a new left-back in while speaking on The Phil Hay Show.
He said: “They’re certainly looking at left-backs. They know now that Firpo will be out for about eight weeks, it’s going to take him into the start of the season probably into September.
Is Firpo good enough for Leeds?
Yes!
No!
“They have been really happy with Leif Davis, how he’s done in pre-season initially, and also how he’s done out in Australia, but I might have said already, the thing with Davis is that you can’t see categorically that he can’t play there and isn’t good enough to play that but you can’t say categorically that he is either.
“And he’s young, he hasn’t played much at all in the past season. They definitely need another option there without a doubt and they are looking.”
TIF Thoughts on Leeds’ left-back pursuit…
There have been reports suggesting that Leeds are being offered the chance to sign Paris Saint-Germain left-back Layvin Kurzawa, but given he is set to turn 30 later this year and also coming from the Ligue 1 champions, would likely command hefty wages, that move may well be a non-starter.
It could well make more sense for Leeds to pursue and try to bring in a left-back that is younger and potentially not ready to be a regular in the Premier League just yet, as when Firpo returns in September it would be expected that he slots into the left-back spot.