Leeds already have perfect Warnock replacement – and Redfearn must play him

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Leeds United left back Stephen Warnock is poised to join Derby County – and the Whites may already have his replacement.

As reported by the BBC on Monday, Leeds United left back Stephen Warnock is in talks with Championship rivals Derby County over a surprise January transfer.

The 33-year-old former England international is out of contract at the end of this season, and with the Rams looking to earn promotion, manager Steve McClaren has decided to pounce for Warnock in what is likely to be a cut-price deal to prevent Leeds losing him for free in the summer.

Warnock was frozen out by former manager Darko Milanic, but has found himself back in the plans under his replacement Neil Redfearn.

However, that hasn’t been enough to earn a new contract for the ex-Liverpool full back, and despite a minor hitch in his deal with Derby, he’s expected to move to the iPro Stadium this week.

That leaves Leeds with something of a hole to fill on the left hand side of their defence, but Redfearn may just have the perfect replacement already at Elland Road.

Charlie Taylor came up through the ranks with Leeds, and after impressive loan spells with Bradford City, York City, Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Fleetwood Town, he now has the chance to establish himself as a regular at Elland Road.

Taylor started against Bolton Wanderers on Saturday in Warnock’s absence, and impressed fans with a solid display in just his first league start of the season.

At 21, Taylor now has the chance to become the latest success story from the Leeds United academy. Redfearn has relied heavily on youngsters such as Sam Byram, Lewis Cook and Alex Mowatt this season, so he will have no qualms about promoting Taylor to the first team once Warnock’s departure is finalised.

Leeds may seek to bring in another experienced left back as cover, but most fans would rather see Taylor given the chance to make the position his own, rather than see another Serie B player come in to the club and stunt the development of an academy product.

The chance is there for Taylor now; he deserves it, and has the ideal manager to give it to him, too. With some faith and patience, Leeds may just have the ideal Warnock replacement already at the club.