Leeds United must strengthen other areas before signing Gerardo Arteaga
Leeds United are interested in making a move for Genk full-back Gerardo Arteaga in the ongoing transfer window, according to Spanish outlet Marca.
The Whites have been in the market to sign a player in order to bolster their defensive unit ahead of the next campaign.
For this purpose, they’ve been linked with the 23-year-old but as per the latest report, they are likely to face competition from fellow Premier League clubs Fulham and Brighton.
Arteaga has less than one year left on his current deal with Genk and it is believed that the Belgian club is keen on offloading the player before losing him for free in less than 12 months’ time.
Athletic Defender
Arteaga is an athletic fullback, known for his incredible work ethic. He will not just defend properly but also be involved in goals by delivering crosses into the box for the likes of Patrick Bamford and Daniel James.
In the previous campaign, the 23-year-old played 42 matches for the club across all competitions, scoring two goals and providing four assists in the process [Transfermarkt].
Jesse Marsch’s men barely escaped relegation last season which was largely down to their weak defensive line.
The Whites had the second-worst defensive record in the Premier League behind Norwich City, who finished 20th in the table [Premier League].
If they want to protect their Premier League status they must bring in good defenders and signing a player like Arteaga seems to be a step in that direction.
However, with Junior Firpo already occupying the left-back position at the club, Leeds must focus on strengthening the centre-back position where they struggled massively before signing another player who will be just a backup of Firpo in that role.
In other Leeds United, a Whites defender heavily admired by Marcelo Bielsa could permanently seal his permanent exit this summer with there being genuine interest in his services.