Can Leeds United really afford not to loan in a centre-back?
Leeds United have until Friday at 5pm to add to their squad and sign a player on loan.
Tuesday night’s match highlighted that this kind of player is still required, but it also highlighted once again that Leeds need defensive reinforcements.
Innovate manager Marcelo Bielsa has shuffled around his defenders and found solutions early on. What would really help though, is another natural centre-half.
Against Preston, Leeds started youngster Conor Shaughnessy, who was converted from a midfielder to centre-back by Thomas Christiansen last season.
Shaughnessy was poor and looked well short of the standard required to play at Championship level, especially for a team hoping to win promotion.
If Leeds were going to rely on him as a back-up option, they may have to re-think.
It is not too late for Marcelo Bielsa to make a U-turn, and try to bring in a centre-back.
Some good loanees have passed them by already, Tosin Adarabioyo, Tomas Kalas, and Cameron Carter-Vickers.
Yet there are still players who can be brought in, including last season’s loanee Matthew Pennington.
The Preston defeat may have pushed Bielsa into a U-turn and prompt him to re-think his confidence in his current options.
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