By George Overhill

2nd Dec, 2022 | 5:10pm

Leeds United transfer target Jesus Vazquez part of 'interesting sub-plot' as he punishes reserves

Jesus Vazquez punished the Leeds United under-21s as part of an “interesting sub-plot” to the 8-0 defeat to Valencia, in the words of Joe Donnohue.

The Whites youngsters faced Gennaro Gattuso’s La Liga side on Friday (2 December) in a friendly arranged at short notice, and were soundly beaten, with the teenage left-back delivering multiple assists on the day.

The young Spanish defender has been linked to a January move to Elland Road, by Radio MARCA on 16 November among others, as he is struggling for game time at the Mestalla, although his priority is to be a success there still according to El Desmarque Valencia on 27 November.

Writing on Twitter during the game on Friday afternoon, Yorkshire Evening Post reporter Donnohue said: “Interesting sub-plot to this game: 19-year-old Jesús Vázquez, who’s been linked with LUFC in recent weeks, has picked up three assists from the left flank today.”

Impressed

If Leeds United weren’t sure about their level of interest in the teenager he surely won’t have done himself any harm with such a central role going forward.

Clearly, a senior side playing against an under-21s line-up isn’t a like-for-like match up but representatives of the club seeing him perform well from up close may have increased the chances of a push to bring him in.

Junior Firpo was in line to be handed the starting role at left-back ahead of the season, despite difficulties in his debut Elland Road campaign, but amid an injury to start the season and a poor game against Leicester upon his return to fitness the job looks to have now been given to Pascal Struijk full time.

That is unless the glaring hole that looked to have been left open in the pecking order in the previous transfer window is addressed in January.

A 19-year-old with only four appearances this season doesn’t sound like the sort of immediate answer to the problem if a six-month loan is on the cards for Vazquez.

But a permanent deal with a view for him to graduate into the team might make sense, if Victor Orta can find more immediate help in addition, as well as convincing the Spaniard his future lies away from his current club.

In other Leeds United news, Gary Lineker was in awe of what he had seen from a Whites player during the break from Premier League action.