Leeds United transfer priority emerges after developments at Elland Road
Leeds United will make more depth in central defence one of their transfer priorities this summer, according to The Athletic.
The online source reported [10 July] that following the exits of Diego Llorente and Charlie Cresswell, Daniel Farke will be left with just Joe Rodon, Pascal Struijk, Ethan Ampadu and Maximilian Wober.
The former defender has joined from Tottenham on a £10million deal, as per BBC Sport, with Archie Gray going the other way, while Wober is expected to re-join the squad after a season on loan with Borussia Monchengladbach.
Leeds United to target new transfer priority
Farke’s defence was one of the most important factors for the Whites last season as they narrowly missed out on promotion to the Premier League, with Rodon and Ampadu starring.
Of course, adding Rodon on a permanent deal this summer will be a huge positive for the club ahead of the 2024/25 season as he managed to play 50 games in all competitions.
The Welsh duo kept veteran defender Liam Cooper out of the starting XI, with the Scot only making eight Championship starts last term, and has now even run down his contract.
With Cooper’s future uncertain – the club want to extend his stay at Elland Road – Farke will be pushing to add more reinforcements to his backline and, hopefully, on cheap deals.
While Cresswell looked to be a young prospect with plenty of hype at Thorp Arch, he never really managed to break through into Farke’s first team and fell out over the lack of game time early in the season.
Any incoming defenders will need to come to terms with the idea that Rodon and Struijk are likely to be the preferred starting centre-backs heading into next season, with any signings helping to add depth to the squad.
In other Leeds news, an update has been provided on the Whites’ pursuit of former Coventry midfielder Callum O’Hare.
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