{{primary_category}}
{{/primary_category}} 
Dominic Matteo: Leeds United need another striker and left-back in summer
Dominic Matteo wants Leeds United to sign a new left-back in the summer transfer window despite being impressed by Ezgjan Alioski’s recent form.
Alioski, 29, has played well in the last couple of weeks and was superb on Sunday as Leeds drew 0-0 with Manchester United at Elland Road.
However, he has been strongly linked with a move away from Leeds when his contract expires at the end of the season. Football Insider has reported he’s agreed a pre-contract deal with Galatasaray.
As well as a new left-back, Matteo also wants to see his former club sign a new striker ahead of next season as he urges the Whites to make a bid to qualify for Europe.
Writing on the Yorkshire Evening Post website, he said: “The club will be looking at next season right now. We know we’re safe, we know we’ve had a great season, what do we need to do to improve on it and go after a Europa League place next season? Are there players who need to move on, players we need?
“We need another striker and another left-back, for me, a really solid one. Gjanni Alioski is finishing the season pretty well but it’s an area I’ve highlighted before. When I played left-back I mainly stayed back and defended but nowadays you have to be so good at both defending and attacking, you’re like a second winger. It’ll be interesting to see who they bring in because the full-backs are so important for starting attacks. Luke Ayling has been outstanding, Stuart Dallas has done well at left-back although he’s better in the engine room, for me.”
New left-back a priority
Whether Alioski leaves Leeds or not, we need to sign a new left-back ahead of next season.
While the North Macedonia international is in the middle of a purple patch, he’s still had some matches this season where he’s looked out of his depth in the Premier League.
We love Gjanni and don’t want to see him move on but we accept that this is the way football works. You move on from the past and move into the future.
Leeds have already been linked with a new left-back.
The Athletic journalist Phil Hay has reported that Leeds “will consider tabling a formal offer for” Brest left-back Romain Perraud in the summer.
Subscribe to Football Insider TV now
Perraud, 23, has been in good form in Ligue 1 this season, scoring three goals and supplying six assists in 32 league appearances for Brest.
He’s also had an interview with MadeInFoot, where he suggested that he could be a perfect player for Marcelo Bielsa.
“I work with a lot of energy,” Perraud said.
“It can sometimes be a fault because I want to be hyperactive so much sometimes I get a little confused. When I was at Paris FC, I gave so much during the first 70 minutes I had no gas left to finish the game. But I like it.
“This system (at Brest), it doesn’t slow me down. The coach lets me play, attack, participate in the offensive side of the game. Of course, I have rules on the defensive aspect, but there isn’t too much of a handbrake.”
If Alioski goes, Perraud is the kind of player we’d like to see Leeds sign.
In other Leeds United news, a journalist has been waxing lyrical about this Leeds-linked winger and also makes a £21.7million transfer claim.