Bradford City left-back James Meredith could be an excellent replacement if West Brom-linked Charlie Taylor does leave Leeds United this summer.
Well this is hardly the beginning of the transfer window Leeds United will have been hoping for. The Championship club hoped that the seemingly inevitable departure of homegrown left-back Charlie Taylor would at least have earned them a few million despite the 23-year-old’s contract expiring this summer.
However, West Brom manager Tony Pulis, who has already seen a £3.5 million bid rejected in January, admitted that The Baggies could pull out of a deal if the two clubs cannot agree a fee at a tribunal, the Daily Mail reports.
And, to make the situation even more confusing, the BBC claims Leeds have now offered Taylor a new contract – despite the York-born youngster incurring the wrath of supporters by refusing to play in their final-day clash with Wigan Athletic.
Therefore, whether Leeds will be in need of a new left-back this summer is anyone’s guess. Though, if Taylor does get his wish and make the step up to the Premier League this summer, Leeds may have already identified an astute replacement.
The Daily Star claimed in January that The Whites were interested in bringing Bradford City flyer James Meredith a few miles across Yorkshire. At the time, they were reportedly ready to bid £350,000 for the Australian.
Flash forward four months, however, and Meredith will soon be a free agent with his contract at Bradford expiring. Furthermore, with The Bantams losing to a last-gasp Millwall strike in the League One Play-Off final, the 29-year-old will be forced to leave if he wants to play Championship football next season.
Bradford City’s James Meredith celebrates scoring a goal
Therefore, Leeds may just have become a more attractive proposition. An attack-minded and versatile defender, Meredith has stood out in each of his five seasons in Bradford colours and his chance at a higher level is long overdue.
Though any deal could be dependent on whether Taylor stays or goes.
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