Middlesbrough are interested in Birmingham City defender Ryan Shotton, who would arguably be an excellent addition to Leeds United’s squad.
According to a recent report from HITC Sport, Middlesbrough are interested in targeting Birmingham’s Ryan Shotton as Garry Monk looks to bolster his defensive options – but perhaps it should be the Boro boss’ old club who should be considering making a move.
Despite the recent loan acquisition of Matthew Pennington, Leeds arguably still need to add to their options at centre-back ahead of the new season with the Everton youngster joining Pontus Jansson, Liam Cooper, and perhaps Luke Ayling as the side’s only real senior options at the heart of the back four.
Birmingham’s Ryan Shotton
Shotton is a proven performer at Championship level. And despite the Blues’ struggles during the previous campaign, the 28-year-old arguably emerged from the season with some credit having performed fairly well throughout the year.
HITC Sport and the Birmingham Mail both report that Birmingham will want a significant amount of money before they allow Shotton to head elsewhere – but he appears to have the consistency and reliability to justify any club’s decision to invest in him.
Whether that sizeable fee would be within Leeds’ budget perhaps remains to be seen, but Whites owner Andrea Radrizzani should arguably be open to trying to bring the former Stoke City man to Elland Road.
It has been a busy summer for Leeds so far, but while they have made a number of signings, many of them have arrived with no previous experience in the Championship – so adding another player who knows exactly what to expect from the division and can help the side strengthen in a position where they lack numbers may perhaps be a smart idea if they are struggling to land their other options.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
