Fleetwood were linked with a move for De Bock last month.
Fleetwood Town manager Joey Barton has told the Blackpool Gazette that he has never heard of Leeds United defender Laurens De Bock, despite being linked with the Belgian last month.
De Bock, who joined Leeds for around £1.5million back in the January transfer window from Club Brugge, has struggled to play his way into the Whites’ starting eleven. The signing of Barry Douglas is likely to push him down the pecking order.
Asked about the reported interest in De Bock, former Manchester City and Rangers man Barton said that he does not know who De Bock is but did state that The Trawlermen were looking for a new left-back.
“Never even heard of him,” Barton said. “I think we would always look to improve the squad, we have got competition for places in many areas. I think we could do with strengthening maybe in that left-back slot.”
Leeds boast an array of left-backs, with Tyler Denton joining League One side Peterborough United on loan despite interest from Italy, while Gaetano Berardi can also play on the left side of defence.
Leeds have stepped up their work in the transfer window of late, adding Douglas, Jack Harrison and Patrick Bamford to their previous two signings of Jamal Blackman and Lewis Baker.
Marcelo Bielsa is still likely to be in the market for another striker after ostracising Caleb Ekuban, with the forward missing from the club’s squad number list. A new central defender is also required.
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