Leeds missed a trick not signing Declan John while they could and that ship may have sailed

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Leeds United need a quality left-back and a player currently on loan at Glasgow Rangers fits the bill.

Following Charlie Taylor’s departure from Leeds United earlier this year, it was clear that the Whites needed a new left-back to ensure the club were not over-reliant on Gaetano Berardi this season.

The Swiss defender did well in an unfamiliar position during the last campaign, but this season he has been found out somewhat and fans are wondering if he is the answer after all.

Signing the versatile Vurnon Anita and bringing Cameron Borthwick-Jackson in on loan was a stewp in the right direction, but the latter has barely been seen while the former is not the out-and-out left-back Leeds need to ensure balance in their starting XI.

That would have been solved if Leeds’ director of football Victor Orta had targeted Cardiff City’s Declan John, but instead the 22-year-old headed to Rangers, where he is impressing in the Scottish Premiership.

John had to bide his time at Ibrox, but an injury to Rangers skipper Lee Wallace gave him an opportunity he has seized with both hands.

Not only has he impressed defensively for the Gers, he also scored two goals in a 4-1 win against Hamilton Academical to prove his worth at the opposite end of the field.

Not for the first time Leeds have missed out on a bargain, with another club benefiting as a result.

Just like Borthwick-Jackson, John was available on loan, but unlike the Manchester United man, Rangers’ temporary player has slotted seamlessly into the starting XI and is impressing at both ends of the pitch.

Leeds’ loss is Rangers’ gain, but if things had been different the Whites could have nabbed another loan bargain akin to the deal that brought Kyle Bartley to Elland Road last season.