49ers Enterprises must ready deadline-busting Connor Roberts transfer after Leeds United injury update
Given the impressive defensive performance of Leeds United against Norwich City, you would have been forgiven for not realising the Whites were undergoing a bit of a defensive crisis.
Daniel Farke’s options at Elland Road are currently incredibly limited, with Pascal Struijk sidelined and Liam Cooper only just back in action, Ethan Ampadu has been forced to deputise alongside Joe Rodon in the German’s backline.
At right-back, 17-year-old Archie Gray has been forced to feature out of position for much of his debut season in senior football and with Luke Ayling and Djed Spence having left Leeds during the January transfer window their options at right-back are even more limited.
While the teenager was once again excellent during the clash with the Canaries on Wednesday (24 January) he was forced off in the closing stages with an injury that saw him hobble straight down the Elland Road tunnel and replaced by Sam Byram.
Farke has since suggested that he is optimistic that Gray has not done any damage to his knee ligaments following the initial assessments [Adam Pope, 24 January], however, this just demonstrates the need for further recruitment before the end of the season.
Should Gray be sidelined for an extended length of time, the only right-back options available to Farke will be Jamie Shackleton and Sam Byram. While both have impressed at times this season, they have had their own individual injury struggles and cannot be relied upon consistently.
The 49ers now have to get their chequebook out and fund a deadline-busting move for a new right-back in the closing stages of the January transfer window, otherwise, it could have huge ramifications on their automatic promotion push.
Burnley’s Connor Roberts reportedly remains a “concrete” target for Leeds United and considering his wealth of Championship experience, including a promotion late season, the 49ers have to bid to get him out of Turf Moor [Ben Jacobs, 22 January].
The Welshman would solve the defensive issues at Elland Road and would offer a more experienced head than Gray and would therefore help the 17-year-old continue his development for the remainder of the season.
Wednesday night was a message to the 49ers that they cannot let this chance pass them by this month. They simply have to sign a new fullback before the window slams shut.
In other Leeds United news, Chris Sutton has shared his verdict on the Whites’ chances of winning automatic promotion
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