Leeds United transfer news: Winner named in race for Brandon Williams deal from Manchester United
Leeds United look to have suffered a blow in the transfer market as they attempt to land a new specialist left-back this summer.
Junior Firpo is currently the only outright left-sided full-back in the first-team squad at Elland Road, with summer returnee Sam Byram currently filling in having taken over from the exit-linked Leo Hjelde.
Manchester United’s Brandon Williams emerged as a target for Daniel Farke earlier in the transfer window, with CBS journalist Ben Jacobs telling GIVEMESPORT (6 August) that there was a “genuine” interest in the former Norwich loanee.
However, according to TEAMtalk on Tuesday (22 August) it is Championship rivals Ipswich who have landed the 22-year-old on loan.
Williams is surplus to requirements at Old Trafford with Erik ten Hag having only given him one appearance last season.
While the Old Trafford youngster only briefly played for Farke at Carrow Road before the German was sacked the Whites boss has already shown a propensity to return for his former full-backs.
Byram was brought back on a free transfer after time together with the Canaries, while right-back Max Aarons got as far as a medical at Thorp Arch before he abandoned those plans to move to Bournemouth.
Leeds United have long been in need of a new specialist left-back, amid Firpo’s struggles for form and fitness since he arrived from Barcelona two years ago.
Pascal Struijk filled in there for part of last season, while Max Wober spent a few games on the left late on while Firpo was suspended.
But just as with striker the club have neglected, through a lack of will or ability, to land a suitable replacement option so far, and with Williams on the way out of Manchester he looked like sensible option.
It appears he is going to be headed back to East Anglia instead to join the other side of the Old Farm derby, so it will need to be back to the drawing board and fast for the recruitment team at Elland Road, with the deadline less than two weeks away now.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites are on the brink of beating two Championship rivals to land a target Farke is “desperate” to get.