Leeds United reportedly wanted Tommie Hoban last year – but will The Whites challenge Sheffield United, Bolton Wanderers and QPR?
It takes some doing for a centre-back to stand out for a club who have just suffered relegation. Yet, despite his loan spell at Ewood Park being cut short after just 16 games thanks to a dislocated shoulder, Tommie Hoban still made a positive impression at League One-bound Blackburn Rovers.
Consequently, the 23-year-old appears to have caught the eye of a number of Championship clubs with Watford willing to loan him out again next season. HITC sources told us that Queens Park Rangers, Bolton Wanderers and Sheffield United are all interested.
But what of Leeds United? We were told midway through the 2015/16 season that The Whites were interested in landing the former Arsenal trainee on loan after a hip injury had kept him on the sidelines for five months.
And, a year-and-a-half on, Hoban could still be an astute addition at Elland Road – particularly with Kyle Bartley’s loan spell from Swansea City ending and Pontus Jansson in need of a new defensive partner.
Pontus Jansson
Furthermore, the left-footed Republic of Ireland youth’s versatility could also come in handy. With Leeds almost certain to lose out-of-contract Charlie Taylor despite West Brom’s stubborn refusal to pay the development fee at a tribunal, Gaetano Berardi is the club’s only natural option on the left of defence.
Hoban, then, could offer some vital cover.
Just two years ago, Hoban helped Watford reach the promised land of the Premier League, winning the club’s Player of the Season award along the way.
And what better way to kickstart his career than attempting to repeat the trick at Leeds?
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