Was keeping Luke Ayling Leeds’ biggest boost this summer?

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West Bromwich Albion were reportedly preparing a £5m deadline day bid to sign Luke Ayling from Championship rivals Leeds United.

24 first-team and reserve players departed Elland Road this summer. Thankfully, Luke Ayling was not one of them.

On transfer deadline day back in August, the Sun (live blog, 9.59am) claimed that West Bromwich Albion were preparing a £5 million bid for Leeds United’s influential right-back.

But when the 5:00pm deadline passed, Ayling had not left West Yorkshire for The Hawthorns, and West Brom’s loss has most certainly been Leeds’ game.

Ayling has been one of Leeds’ most impressive and consistent performers since he arrived from Bristol City in 2016, but he appears to have stepped up his game this season with Marcelo Bielsa in the dugout.

There have been plenty of headlines written about Mateusz Klich, Samu Saiz and Kemar Roofe but Ayling has arguably been the best of the lot.

A fan favourite for his crunching tackles and obvious commitment to the cause, Ayling looks to have evolved into a more potent attacking threat under the famously swashbuckling Biels, scoring his first goal for the Whites during a recent 2-0 win against Rotherham United.

Roofe, Saiz, Pablo Hernandez and co are capable of winning games with moments of magic. But, if Leeds are to challenge for promotion this season, Ayling’s game-in-game-out excellence will be crucial.