Leeds United shouldn’t re-sign Kyle Bartley.
Paul Clement’s sacking at Swansea City last week has given rise to theories from Leeds United fans that Kyle Bartley could be a viable target in January.
The defender was outstanding during his season-long loan at Leeds last season, but a £7.5 million pricetag, coupled with Clement’s intention to keep him, made it difficult for the Elland Road club to thrash out a permanent deal.
The former Arsenal product is due to return soon after missing virtually the whole season with a knee ligament injury, and although he might be more accessible now, the Whites should resist any temptation to bring him back for a second spell.
Truth is, Leeds have moved on from Bartley and the fact that Pontus Jansson and Liam Cooper were mainstays in a United side that went 636 minutes without conceding a Championship goal earlier in the season is evidence that they don’t need him.
That statistic ought to illustrate that Jansson and Cooper are a fine partnership and although there has been times when they’ve looked less than solid, for the most part the duo have been brilliant, both individually and alongside one another.
Bringing back Bartley is one that appeals to the sentimental side of Leeds fans but, really, they don’t need him, with Thomas Christiansen also boasting Conor Shaughnessy and Matthew Pennington as secondary centre-back options.
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