Burnley manager Vincent Kompany insists that the Premier League strugglers will take their time with Connor Roberts as Leeds United eye up the Wales international.
HITC Football understands that Leeds are looking to bring in a new right-back after losing Luke Ayling to Middlesbrough and after sending Djed Spence back to Tottenham Hotspur a few months ahead of schedule.
One of the names on the club’s radar, meanwhile, is that of Connor Roberts.
A 28-year-old Wales international, Roberts boasts considerable experience at Championship level after spells at Swansea City and Middlesbrough. But while the £2.5 million Clarets stopper has found opportunities hard to come by recently – he’s not started a Premier League game since picking up a red card against Brentford in October – Kompany is in no rush to make any decision about Roberts’ future.
Burnley respond to Leeds’ Connor Roberts interest
“I mean, we have a nine-day break and our next game is on January 31, so we’ll have plenty of time to do all these discussions, certainly internally,” the former Manchester City captain tells the Burnley Express.
“My only concern has been Luton (who Burnley will face on Friday). And then we will deal with everything else after that game.”
HITC has been informed by sources close to Leeds that West Ham’s Ben Johnson is another name under consideration. The Yorkshire giants have made contact with their London-based counterparts too, and Johnson is understood to be the more likely acquisition at this stage.
While Roberts is under contract until 2025, the West Ham academy graduate is due to become a free-agent in July. His development has stalled in recent times, Johnson making only his first league start of the entire campaign during the 0-0 draw with Brighton and Hove Albion last week.
Daniel Farke needs a right-back
It’s been a quiet start to the window for Leeds, for the most part, with much of the focus on keeping a talented crop of players together.
The promotion-chasers have been linked with the £4 million-rated Ghanian defender Nathaniel Adjei. Hammarby’s sporting director, however, has made it clear that there are no talks scheduled between the two clubs.
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