Leeds United still want free agent signing amid ‘surprise opportunities’ after Junior Firpo struggles for fitness – Ben Jacobs
Leeds United would “like to move” to make a free agent signing at left-back still if the “right opportunity arose”, according to Ben Jacobs.
The CBS journalist spoke to GIVEMESPORT (9 September) and said that the Whites had “resigned themselves” to potentially sticking with what they’ve got until January when they failed to secure a loan before the window shut, but predicts a “flurry of movements” still as other transfer windows shut and “surprise opportunities” come up.
Junior Firpo is currently the only specialist left-back in the squad and is only just returning to full fitness, while Sam Byram has been a solid stand-in after his return from Norwich but has also had an injury.
Jacobs said: “Leeds knew in the final days of the window that they needed left-back cover but, now the European window is shut, their options are limited.
“It’s not just about bringing someone in for the sake of it. The good news is that Junior Firpo says that he is fit and will return, but there’s still ultimately not that much cover there.
“If the right opportunity arose, of course, Leeds would like to move and the beauty of the free agency market is that it can be quite cost-effective.
“But there are no indications yet that anything is close at this stage, albeit with windows shutting and players looking to finalise their moves in the free agency market, as a result. I think that we’ll see a flurry of movements.
“When I say windows shutting, it’s obviously not relevant to the free agency market, but it might be relevant to some options becoming available who are currently tied up and end up leaving their current club.
“We saw that with Kasper Schmeichel, whose contract with Nice was mutually terminated, so surprise opportunities in free agency can still present themselves.
“But Leeds kind of resigned themselves at the end of the European window to the fact that if they didn’t bring in a loan option, they might have to stick with what they’ve got until at least January and hope that Firpo can get fit.”
Availability
Having apparently been barking up the wrong tree in their hopes of bringing in either Charlie Taylor from Burnley or Luke Thomas from Leicester City the club is in the familiar position of making do at left-back, despite signing a striker, a right-back, three midfielders, a centre-back, a winger and a goalkeeper this summer.
Firpo hasn’t had a shot in the Championship yet so whether his form is more stable in the second tier is yet to be revealed, but his frequent lack of availability is concern enough for White supporters.
There are unlikely to be many world-beaters available in the free agent market this late in the day, but a dependable option with a solid fitness records should be considered.
Byram’s free transfer arrival has shown the value of filling positions of need with released players, and were it not for his own injury record there would likely be no need to sign another at the position.
Jamie Shackleton has also filled in surprisingly effectively so far, but as a converted midfielder and general utility man he may not be enough in the biggest games this season.
Stuart Dallas would have been the answer a couple of years ago but his return from the broken leg he suffered the season before last is still unclear.
So if there is a late bargain to be had in the next few weeks it would absolutely be worth bringing them to Elland Road.
In other Leeds United news, Phil Hay doesn’t think the EFL were “very happy” with the Whites after forthey did during the takeover this summer.