Are Leeds going with youth, or do they have bigger transfer lined up?

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Leeds face being beaten to Kristian Pedersen by Birmingham City.

Leeds United appear set to miss out on Kristian Pedersen to Birmingham City.

Pedersen had seemed poised to become Leeds’ first summer signing, as he prepares to leave Union Berlin.

Instead Danish publication Extra Bladet report Pedersen is close to a Birmingham switch.

The 23-year-old left-back could be a solid signing for Birmingham, but Leeds’ need for a player in his position has been clear for the past year.

Laurens de Bock has failed to impress and the Whites need to strengthen, and Pedersen could have been ideal.

So what next for Leeds at left-back?

Missing out on Pedersen means one of two paths for Leeds to take this summer.

They could a) focus on youth and give Tom Pearce the chance to make the left-back spot his own by competing with De Bock, or b) bring in an even more superior left-back to Pedersen, keep Pearce as back-up and sell De Bock.

An example would have been Joe Bryan, who Leeds wanted last summer, but is now unattainable after a superb season for Bristol City.

The options are of course contingent on Leeds announcing they have agreed a new contract for Pearce.

Stepping aside or simply not pulling all the stops out to sign Pedersen indicates Leeds are more relaxed about Pearce, or that an even bigger transfer target could soon be on his way to Elland Road.