Leeds are expected to target a left-back in the upcoming transfer window.
Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani is expected to announce Paul Heckingbottom’s successor at Elland Road soon and whoever that may be, Marcelo Bielsa or someone else, should be drawing up a summer shortlist already.
Indeed, the new manager will need to identify the problem areas at Elland Road, which are likely to be a new goalkeeper, centre-back, left-back and a striker.
On the left side of defence, England Under-21 international Tom Pearce (below) has emerged from the Under-23 side to impress in recent matches but if the Whites are to push for promotion, experience and proven quality are key traits required.
Indeed, the Whites need a proven Championship left-back who is defensively astute but is also able to nick a goal or two, and provide an assist from the left flank.
Step forward Middlesbrough defender George Friend, 30, after the Teesside Gazette claimed Tony Pulis could finally wave goodbye to the long-serving left-back after first joining the club from Doncaster in 2012.
Friend boasts huge Championship experiences, clocking up an enormous 259 second-tier appearances throughout his career as well as gaining promotion with Boro in 2015-16 as runners-up of the division.
Laurens De Bock.
Standing at a lofty 6ft 2in, Friend is also decent in the air, making him the perfect all-round left-back to solve Leeds’ left-sided woes after the signing of Laurens De Bock turned out to be another example of Victor Orta’s failures.
Though he has a contract at the Riverside until the summer of 2020, it is unlikely that Boro will charge much for the former Wolverhampton, Millwall and Scunthorpe defender if indeed Leeds look to make a bid.
Director of football Orta made mistakes by signing unproven players from overseas last summer, but choosing to target proven Championship stars such as Friend will surely give Leeds the knowhow in a promotion bid. Friend is a must-buy.
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