Leeds United may be set to move for a leading creative defender, which could see one of their recent transfer blunders ditched.
What’s the latest?
That’s according to journalist Phil Hay, who delivered a detailed transfer roundup with the January window approaching.
Among plenty of others, he would claim that left back and a forward are Victor Orta’s priority, with the former hoping to replace the disappointing Junior Firpo.
Should Leeds sign Kai Wagner?
Yes
No
Kai Wagner is namedropped as someone they are looking at, with the 25-year-old having excelled in the MLS for Philadelphia Union. In his adorning Tweet, he claimed that they hold “interest” in the defender.
Ditch Firpo
In what has been one of the Spanish director of football’s more notorious transfer blunders, the £12.8m deal to bring Firpo to Elland Road ranks high up on that list.
Joining with a fine reputation from Barcelona, he quickly established himself as defensively culpable and an unreliable defender for both Marcelo Bielsa and Jesse Marsch.
This has culminated in his 6.30 average rating for this season, with even Pascal Struijk playing out of position to ensure he does not have to feature.
In his potential German replacement, they could gain a fine attacking left-back who boasts more than capable defensive qualities too.
Having already recorded 32 assists in his career, this season has perhaps been his most lucrative as he has provided nine in just one year.
He has earned a 7.48 average rating from Sofascore, which only exacerbates his offensive assets by showcasing his 2.6 key passes per game too. His 1.7 interceptions, 1.6 clearances and 1.4 tackles only serve to sweeten the deal.
It is therefore no surprise to see him labelled “creative and technical” by journalist Ben Jacobs, with this statement only supplemented by the claims of former teammate Aurelien Collin.
He said: “He’s young. He’s a fighter. He’s not scared of the contact, which is something very important in this league, and I think that’s why right now he’s adapted very well.”
With this not being the only rumour linking them to a new left-back, it seems Firpo’s time in Yorkshire could be coming to a close.
Orta could finish what he started by securing the long-term answer to this role to ditch his previous botched attempt.