Leeds need defensive additions, and Marcelo Bielsa should look to his old club.
Marcelo Bielsa has stated that he will not be actively looking for defensive additions in the upcoming January transfer window, despite Leeds United’s woes at the back. But a free agent presents the perfect opportunity to Leeds.
Captain Liam Cooper’s injury against Sheffield United has seen his name added to the list of injured defenders that also include Stuart Dallas, Luke Ayling, Gaetano Berardi and Tom Pearce.
It saw teenager Jamie Shackleton start on the right side of defence against QPR on Saturday, while Kalvin Phillips dropped into centre-back alongside Pontus Jansson. Aapo Halme was on the bench, though he has appeared twice for Leeds.
Shackleton is arguably Leeds’ fourth-choice right-back. Ayling is Bielsa’s first choice without a doubt, while Berardi is likely to be his back-up – though the one-time Switzerland international can play anywhere in defence.
Northern Ireland international Dallas had been beginning to impress on the right side of defence, as Bielsa continues to mould the ex-Brentford player into a right-back. He is naturally a left-sided winger.
A new right-back should be targeted then, but Leeds could make a signing even before the January transfer window opens. That is because Bielsa’s old side Newell’s Old Boys have released 29-year-old Ivan Piris.
The 23-time Paraguay international joined Newell’s on a one-year deal in the summer, but it has been ended early after just nine appearances for the Argentine side.
Piris has plenty of big clubs on his CV, including Udinese, AS Roma, Sao Paulo and Sporting Lisbon, but his career has gone somewhat wayward. Bielsa has to convince him to get his career back on track, by chancing his arm in England.
On a free, Piris would be an excellent, reliable signing and give Leeds proper top-flight quality.
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