Phil Hay shares what he’s heard about Leeds transfer link to ‘available’ Daniel Ayala
Leeds United are unlikely to pursue a deal to sign Middlesbrough defender Daniel Ayala, according to The Athletic journalist Phil Hay.
The Daily Star reported on Sunday night that Leeds would plan to sign Ayala, 29, from Boro whether they win promotion to the Premier League or not.
Ayala’s contract at the Riverside Stadium is set to expire in June and he was reported to have been on Marcelo Bielsa’s shortlist for potential recruits ahead of next season.
However ex-Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Hay has poured cold water on that transfer link by sharing what he heard from Elland Road when Ayala was first linked to Leeds back in the winter.
“He was linked in January. When I asked people at the club then, they said no. Does he fit into the mould of centre-backs Bielsa likes? I wouldn’t have said so. Would be a strange one. But he will be available on a free,” said Hay via a live Q&A session on The Athletic’s website on Wednesday afternoon.
The links between Leeds and Ayala always seemed a bit tenuous because, as Hay says, he doesn’t seem to be the kind of defender who the Whites will need.
Ahead of next season, the club could be without Ben White and Gaetano Berardi due to their respective loan deal and contracts coming to an end.
However if Leeds go up then surely they will push the boat out to sign someone a bit better than Ayala?
He’s a decent centre-back and one that could do a job for Leeds in the Premier League or the Championship.
But you would imagine that the riches of the Premier League would open up a whole host of potential options for Victor Orta and Bielsa to sink their teeth into.
In other Leeds United news, a journalist has detailed a £200million scenario that could see United bankrupt the EFL.