Leeds United should cash in on Luke Ayling with Rasmus Kristensen on his way
Leeds United are getting ever closer to their second signing of the 2022 summer and it could spell the end of the Elland Road for one player.
According to Sky Sports Italy journalist Fabrizio Romano (via his personal Twitter account), the Whites are just one step away from adding RB Salzburg’s talented right-back Rasmus Kristensen to their ranks having already poached American midfielder Brenden Aaronson from the same team.
The 24-year-old Danish international had been a target for Brentford and Borussia Dortmund but Jesse Marsch has helped to beat both sides to the punch and make him, very nearly, ours.
The problem for the manager here though is that he already has a right-back who has held that position for almost the entirety of his six-year stay at the club and another youngster who impressed on loan last season.
The former, obviously, is Luke Ayling who only missed the backend of the 2021-22 season through injury but at this moment in time, he would be Marsch’s man at right-back.
The issue arises though that if Cody Drameh is not given more opportunities at Elland Road, he will very quickly be asking to leave the club altogether rather than just the loan which he was given last season.
He was exceptional for Cardiff City in the Championship and has earned a chance in Yorkshire but when you only play with one right-back, there isn’t really room for three in the squad.
Assuming Kristensen is finalised in the near future, Leeds should fully invest in their youth and allow the 30-year-old Ayling to find himself a new club under the assumption that he won’t play all that often from now on unless an injury crisis hits.
It might seem harsh but he’s about to enter the last 12 months of his contract at the club and this might be the last chance we get to earn a transfer fee for him.
In other Leeds United news, Barcelona are not relenting in their pursuit of Raphinha and Whites supporters have found a new, unexpected way to beg the Brazilian to stay.