Josh Doig to seal transfer Friday after medical news amid January Leeds United interest
Josh Doig is set to complete a move to Sassuolo after travelling for a medical on Thursday night (18 January) following January interest from Leeds United, according to The Times.
The paper reported via their website on 19 January that the Scottish left-back is on the brink of a “bumper move” from Hellas Verona, with the transfer to be completed later the same day.
The Whites were said to be interested in the 21-year-old as they look to strengthen at full-back during the January transfer window, but having never actually advanced to a putting in a “formal bid” he is now going to stay in Italy after a £5million move with £850,000 of add-ons.
Doig has a four and a half year contract waiting for him at Sassuolo, having come close to moving to Marseille earlier in the window before Verona pulled the plug.
With Sam Byram and Junior Firpo both suffering significant injury issues this season left-back is believed to be a priority for Daniel Farke, while the unplanned exits of Djed Spence and Luke Ayling has also increased the need for additions on the right.
Missed out
It looks like Leeds United could have afforded Doig if they really wanted him but he wouldn’t have been cheap for a Championship club that spent fairly substantially in the summer.
As the days tick past towards the deadline it seems to be proving difficult for the club to do a deal that suits them financially, and it is likely going to need a changing of the landscape somewhere as the end of the month approaches for new arrivals to come in.
A loan on either side of the defence is probably most suitable unless the players that were to come in were definite upgrades on Byram or Archie Gray.
And with promotion still the objective it would make little sense to spend money on players for the long-term that fit in at this level but won’t necessarily be of use in the Premier League.
However, if Leeds United are unable to bring anybody in before the window shuts it is undoubtedly going to leave them very light, especially with fitness issues a fixture on the left.
Gray and Jamie Shackleton have been solid stand-ins on the right but it can’t be what anyone at Elland Road planned earlier in the season to head toward the run in with the out-of-position pair and injury-prone duo Firpo and Byram as the only options at either full-back spot.
In other Leeds United news, according to Phil Hay another permanent exit is now on the cards after developments behind the scenes at Elland Road.
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