Afetr the Charlie Taylor debacle, Leeds should go all in on Gaetano Berardi.
Gaetano Berardi of Leeds United shoots at goal
Leeds United have a decision to make this summer as to who will get the left-back spot next season.
If you ask most supporters there is only one man who should get it: Gaetano Berardi.
The versatile Swiss ace filled in adeptly for the disgraced Charlie Taylor during his injury, ensuring there was minimal drop off in the team’s performance.
Berardi has been at Leeds since 2014, and is easily the best addition made by former sporting director Nicola Salerno.
Leeds United’s Gaetano Berardi in action with Brentford’s Sergi Canos
While he lost his right-back spot to Luke Ayling, he proved more than capable of switching to left-back, as he previously did temporarily when Neil Redfearn was in charge.
Charlie Taylor’s exit looks inevitable after he refused to play in the season’s final match, with his contract set to expire.
This presents the Whites with a decision to make. Do they need to sign a replacement?
The answer to this may depend not on Berardi, but on academy talent Tyler Denton.
Jordan Mustoe of Accrington Stanley with Gaetano Berardi of Leeds United
Berardi has shown he is deserving of the management’s faith, and they should go all in on him and make him first choice, and even consider a contract extension for the model pro.
Leeds may still need to sign a back-up, depending on whether they feel Denton is up to scratch, or look at a player who is capable of playing at both centre-half and at left-back.
The Championship is a long gruelling season and Berardi’s combative style means injury at some stage is likely.
Leeds need to prepare for this eventuality, but they don’t need to make Berardi the back-up. He should be first choice and their transfer business should reflect this.
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