Leeds United need to revamp their squad a little bit after a disappointing 2021/22 campaign, and they seem to be making strides towards doing just that.
Rasmus Kristensen and Brendan Aaronson have already signed, while Marc Roca also seems to be on his way.
New signings are all well and good, but one surefire was to add a bit more energy into your squad is to integrate a few youngsters, something Leeds haven’t been afraid of doing in recent years.
Joe Gelhardt and Sam Greenwood have established themselves as regulars in the senior squad, while Charlie Cresswell and Crysencio Summerville seem to be well on their way to breaking into the team.
However, one player who hasn’t been given many chances in recent years is Leif Davis, but according to the Yorkshire Evening Post, the youngster will be given a chance to prove himself in pre-season.
Davis has been highly rated at Leeds for years. In fact, he’s even earned praise from Kalvin Phillips in the past.
“One of the players we haven’t seen much of yet, but we will get to see is, in the future definitely, Leif Davis.” Phillips said on the Leeds That podcast.
“He’s that good of a player. If he just settled down a little bit and screwed his head on a little bit he’d be up there as one of the best left-backs, left midfielders, centre-halves we’ve got.”
Phillips believes that Davis could be one of the best left-backs at Leeds if he gets his head straight, and now is the perfect chance for him to blossom into that role.
Junior Firpo endured a horrendous debut season at Elland Road, and with Stuart Dallas seemingly out of action until the new year, a spot could open up at left-back.
This summer will be Davis’ first chance to work alongside Jesse Marsch, and there’s reason to believe that the former RB Leipzig man could be the gaffer that helps Davis focus. After all, Marsch is big on mentality – he even uses quotes by Gandhi to motivate his players.
So, if Davis is to break through at Leeds what type of player would we be seeing? Well, he’s a speedy, attacking full-back with a brilliant left-foot, and he’s even been compared to Gareth Bale by the YEP’s Graham Smyth in the past.
“For a defender that would be terrifying, somebody coming on with that kind of pace. It was reminiscent of Gareth Bale against Inter Milan, pushing the ball ahead and backing himself to beat anyone else to it,” Smyth said on his podcast about Davis.
If this youngster is given a chance to prove himself, he could be the surprise star of 2022/23 at Leeds, but whether or not this opportunity comes around for Davis remains to be seen.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
