Leeds United simply cannot stop conceding, and with Robin Koch sidelined for three months and Diego Llorente still getting used to the Premier League, it would make sense for head coach Marcelo Bielsa to bring in a new central defender.
Liam Cooper, Koch and Llorente are the three senior centre-backs on the books of Leeds at the moment, while Pascal Struijk, 21, has played in that position. There is an argument to be made that the Premier League club could do with a new centre-back for the short term, especially one who is tall and would be helpful in set pieces.
Enter William Saliba of Arsenal.
Leeds lost 2-1 to West Ham United on Friday evening, and their vulnerability during set pieces was laid bare. The Whites suffered a 3-1 loss at the hands of Chelsea last weekend after conceding goals from set pieces.
Saliba is not getting any playing time at Arsenal at the moment, and the 6ft 4in defender himself has been quoted as jokingly saying by The Sun that he is “locked up”.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has options in central defence, and Saliba is unlikely to get much playing time in the coming weeks and months.
Arteta recently suggested that he is open to sending the 19-year-old centre-back out on loan in January, and Leeds should pounce on the chance.
Of course, Saliba does not have any experience in the Premier League, but the defender would arrive at Elland Road as an option on the substitutes’ bench.
There is no point in Leeds signing a defender on a permanent contract in the middle of the season, and a loan move for Saliba would be smart.
Arsenal themselves could be open to sending the youngster to a big club such as Leeds and follow his progress in the Premier League.
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