The 30-year-old is out of contract in the summer and Leeds United may be in the market for a left-back.
You won’t find a Leeds United fan with a single bad word to say about Gaetano Berardi. The essential utility-man has filled in to great effect recently with first-choice left-back Charlie Taylor ruled out with injury, his commitment and tenacity endearing himself to the Elland Road support.
Whether Berardi can hold down the fort forever, however, is a different matter. The reality is that if Taylor does depart at the end of the season upon the expiry of his contract, Leeds will need to secure a replacement.
Fortunately, however, they could secure an experienced, proven addition without spending a penny. The Sun reported in January that Leeds had pinpointed Celtic’s long-serving leftie Emilio Izaguirre as the ideal candidate to reinforce their ranks.
At 30, the Honduran may be seven years Taylor’s senior but he has what no other player in the Leeds squad can bring to the table. A winning mentality reinforced by a bucketload of winner’s medals.
Izaguirre has lifted five successive Scottish Premiership titles meaning that, if the unthinkable occurs and Leeds miss out on promotion this season, the 2011 SFWA Player of the Year could prove invaluable on and off the pitch next time around.
Furthermore, after losing his place in the Celtic starting XI to the exceptional Kieran Tierney after six years as an undisputed starter, Izaguirre could be tempted by a change of scenery.
A free transfer to Elland Road could be mutually beneficial.
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