Leeds United need a replacement for last year’s loanee Kyle Bartley – how about Richard Stearman after a fine season at Wolves?
Pontus Jansson (L) and Kyle Bartley (R) were inspired loan signings for Leeds United
The failure to add attacking reinforcements in January was viewed by many Leeds United supporters as a major contributing factor to a late-season collapse which cost them a place in the Championship play-off places.
However, an intelligent use of the loan market laid the foundations for their best league finish in a decade under Garry Monk. Signed on short-term deals from Torino and Swansea City respectively, Pontus Jansson and Kyle Bartley formed arguably the league’s most consistent central defensive partnership.
Meanwhile, although Modou Barrow and Alfonso Pedraza were disappointments, Pablo Hernandez and Hadi Sacko added some much needed guile and creativity in the final third.
Therefore, although the club are embarking on huge changes behind the scenes with a new owner, new manager, new sporting director and new scout, they should take some inspiration from the successes of the Cellino-Monk partnership.
Stear Leeds towards Richard
Especially now Get West London claims that Fulham will be willing to let versatile defender Richard Stearman leave on loan for a Championship rival this summer. While Jansson has signed permanently from Torino, Bartley returned to Swansea upon the expiry of his loan, meaning new defensive additions are required ahead of next season.
Leeds would love to have kept Kyle Bartley
And although Wolves only limped to a mid-table finish last season, they may have been dragged further towards the relegation mire had Stearman now joined on a short-term deal from Craven Cottage.
The 29-year-old started 18 Championship games and stood out in the vast majority. In fact, while Nouha Dicko hogged the headlines as Wolves delivered a crushing blow to Leeds’ play-off hopes with a 1-0 win at Elland Road in April, it was Stearman’s impenetrable performance at centre-back which laid the foundations.
Richard Stearman
His arrival wouldn’t get pulses racing at Elland Road but Stearman is the kind of solid, reliable presence that could soften the blow of Bartley’s exit.
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