Andrew Surman is out of contract in the summer – and Leeds United should make the Bournemouth midfielder a priority.
If Leeds United do indeed end their prolonged exile from the top tier of English football this season, Garry Monk will have some preparation to do to ensure that they survive their return to the Premier League.
And it may well concern the manager that his squad is alarmingly short of top flight experience. Of the entirety of Leeds’ squad, only Kyle Bartley, Rob Green and Pablo Hernandez made any sort of an impression in the Premier League. Liam Bridcutt’s disastrous spell at Sunderland, meanwhile, is best left unmentioned.
Therefore, Leeds could do worse than to give a chance to a midfielder who started each and every Premier League game last season, plus another 20 this time around. Despite his consistent performances in the centre of the park, it appears that Bournemouth are willing to let Andrew Surman leave once his contract expires at the end of the season.
The 30-year-old may have lost his place in the side in recent months but, blessed with excellent composure in possession and the ability to pick a pass with ease, the deep-lying playmaker would represent a superb addition on a free transfer.
And he could be the ideal player for Leeds. After all, Monk’s midfield is characterised by hard-working, pragmatic scrappers a la Bridcutt, Kalvin Phillips and Ronaldo Vieira.
Surman, who has averaged a pass completion rate of 85 per cent in the last two seasons, would give Leeds some much needed precision in the centre of the park while allowing Monk’s side to control possession if needs be.
The fact he is available for nothing, meanwhile, should only sweeten the deal.
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