Belgian outlet HLN report that Laurens De Bock is finally set to leave Leeds United after more than four years on the books – and complete a move to current loan side Zulte Waregem. His contract at Leeds ends in June.
De Bock, 29, was one of many left-backs Leeds have signed that fans had hoped would end the need for a left-sided defender. But fast forward four and a half years after his move in January 2018, he played seven times.
Just seven times, for Leeds. Quickly regarded as not good enough, he has since spent his career on loan – Oostende, Sunderland, ADO Den Haag and now Waregem for the past two seasons. He seems to have found a home.
Clocking up 62 appearances over the course of the last two seasons, De Bock has even become the club’s captain – and now, HLN report he has signed a permanent one-year deal, with the option to extend it by a further year.
De Bock to finally leave: One of Orta’s worst Leeds signings
There have been a few in recent seasons. The unknown group of players alongside De Bock also include Ouasim Bouy – who never played for Leeds and Yosuke Ideguchi, who never played for Leeds. He’s now at Celtic.
Pawel Cibicki, Kiko Casilla, Jean-Kevin Augustin, there has been some howlers. What makes De Bock probably worse than the lot is that after seven games, he cost them £1.5million (TeamTalk).
That cash would have been better thrown at the wall. The curse of the left-back at Leeds remains – Junior Firpo has flopped and Barry Douglas failed to replicate his Wolves form. A left-back could be signed this summer.
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