Leeds United could arguably benefit from signing a left-sided player during the January transfer window, and a loan bid for Derby’s Ikechi Anya may make sense.
Ikechi Anya
Given how little Ikechi Anya has played for Derby this season, it would hardly be a surprise if the suggestion that Leeds should make a loan bid for the Scotsman receives a lukewarm reaction at best.
Anya has played just once in the Championship this season, and has probably failed to find his best form since he left Watford for Derby in 2016.
But perhaps a loan bid for the 29-year-old may be worth considering for Thomas Christiansen as he could arguably add something to the Leeds squad as they look to build on their promising start to the campaign.
Anya would bring plenty of versatility, and his ability to play as a left-back may prove especially valuable if Cameron Borthwick-Jackson is still unable to break into the Whites side by the time the window opens.
Anya can also play further up the field which may prove beneficial in the games when Leeds’ midfield need to provide the full-backs with support – and his crossing ability would ensure that the likes of Pierre-Michel Lasogga have chances to feed off.
It may appear to be an uninspiring suggestion, but many would have perhaps said the same about Luke Ayling’s arrival at Elland Road in 2016.
Ayling’s arrival would not have been a signing that the supporters would have been craving before it was announced, but he has gone on to become one of Leeds’ most important and reliable players after being written off by a Championship rival.
And while Anya would have to surprise many to get close to making a similar impact to the one that Ayling has made, a fresh start for the Scotland international may give him the motivation to find his best form, and thus, a loan bid may be a gamble worth taking for Leeds.
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