Could injuries to two Leeds United players spark the Whites into action ahead of Friday’s deadline for domestic transfers?
Both Liam Cooper and Diego Llorente will return to Leeds earlier than planned after picking up muscle ailments whilst with Scotland and Spain, respectively.
Whether or not the pair will recover in time for the Whites’ visit of Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday remains to be seen.
But their absences – however temporary they may prove to be – serve as a timely reminder of how thin on the ground Leeds would be without them.
Beyond Robin Koch and Pascal Stuijk – a rookie who boasts just seven senior career appearances – United have only non-specialist or youth-team options to call on at centre-half.
As we all should know by now, the Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa does not buy for the sake of it.
But might he be tempted into business if there was a player available who could solve multiple problems?
As well being short at the heart of his defence, Bielsa could soon be a left-back down should reports linking Barry Douglas with a move to Watford or Blackburn Rovers come to fruition.
And according to The Sun, one of Leeds’ league rivals are interested in signing a Championship player who can cover both roles.
It is claimed that Sheffield United have placed the Bournemouth defender Diego Rico on their own list of potential targets, and Leeds – on that basis alone, given the Blades’ admirable recruitment record – could do worse than to investigate a deal.
And when you throw in that Rico – for whom Bournemouth are said to have paid Leganes £10.7 million in 2018 – has two years’ Premier League experience behind him, is still only 27 and boasts Bielsa-endearing strengths such ball interception, key passing and crossing – according to Whoscored – a move for the Spaniard seems a no-brainer.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
