Leeds United are reportedly interested in signing Joe Bryan this summer as Marcelo Bielsa looks to bolster his left-back ranks.
Left-back was a problematic position throughout last season. The likes of Gaetano Berardi, Vurnon Anita, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson and Laurens De Bock all failed to stamp their authority on the role, and they were all put to shame somewhat by Tom Pearce’s emergence into the side during the latter stages of the campaign.
Pearce was impressive, but it is no surprise that Marcelo Bielsa is reportedly keen to add to his options ahead of his first season in charge at Elland Road, and Bryan would arguably be one of the better deals that the Whites could do having been such an integral part of the Robins’ side.
If Leeds sign Bryan – which will not be easy given that he is also wanted by some Premier League sides, according to the Mirror – they would perhaps turn left-back into one of their biggest strengths with Pearce providing cover as he continues to perfect his game. But any deal would surely push Tyler Denton closer to the exit.
For one very brief moment during Garry Monk’s tenure, it appeared that Denton was ready to establish himself as the next academy graduate to burst onto the first-team stage. A stunning winning goal in a cup tie against Luton Town has however, not been followed by more notable moments from the 22-year-old, and Pearce’s selection ahead of him last season hinted that his chance has potentially passed him by.
Of course, Paul Heckingbottom may have had other reasons for picking Pearce and the former head coach is no longer at the helm, but it would be a surprise if Denton is ahead of his positional rival in Bielsa’s mind. And with the Yorkshire Evening Post recently reporting that Denton is a loan target for Brescia – who also want the option to buy the youngster permanently – signing a marquee left-back in Bryan would surely leave Leeds much more confident about letting Denton go.
If Bielsa was unable to make the kind of addition that clearly pushes Pearce down to second choice, then perhaps the door could still be open for Denton to turn his situation around.
But you would imagine that Bryan – who is only two years older than Denton – is not going to consider coming to Leeds if he is not the undisputed number one, and that surely means that there is going to be a much more defined pecking order in place if a deal is done than if a less inspired signing was brought in to improve the depth.
There is no reason to definitively believe that Denton’s days would be numbered if Bryan arrived, but given how impressive a deal would be if Leeds won the race, it does seem that the Whites ace’s future could be bleak if he ends up sticking around.
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