Leeds United’s Gaetano Berardi is a fine player, but can he be trusted to stay fit for a 46-game season?
Gaetano Berardi’s performances last season have lessened the urgency for Leeds United to replace left-back Charlie Taylor, who is set to leave the club for free this summer.
The Swiss defender was superb in Taylor’s absence and although he seems like the natural heir to Taylor’s left-back role, Leeds must surely draft in a replacement nonetheless.
As good as Berardi has been, he is, through no fault of his own, slightly unreliable.
The 28-year-old has been in and out of the team over the past 18 months due to injury and if Leeds are serious about promotion next season then they cannot afford the gamble.
Berardi missed the end of the 2015-16 campaign through an ankle injury which also saw him miss 11 matches midway through the same season.
He was back in time for the visit to QPR on the first day of the 2016-17 season, lasting only 22 minutes as a hamstring issue kept him out until the end of October.
There has been no major concerns then, but would you put the mortgage on him lasting a full Championship season? Few would and though it might be tempting for Leeds to let Berardi assume Taylor’s role and use the money to strengthen other areas, it is a gamble and one that the Whites cannot make.
Academy prospect Tyler Denton would be on hand to replace Berardi should anything happen, but questions remain over whether he is good enough for the Championship.
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