Report: Leeds United pushed through £1.5m De Bock transfer after Ayling injury blow

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Leeds United are expected to confirm a move for Laurens De Bock.

Leeds United are set to confirm a move for Laurens De Bock imminently after Belgian side Club Brugge announced his departure.

De Bock is an experienced left-back who gives Leeds a vital new option in defence, and the timing is perfect after Luke Ayling’s injury blow.

Leeds announced yesterday that Ayling is expected to miss the rest of the season after sustaining an ankle injury, and he has already undergone surgery.

The move for De Bock is no coincidence.

Ayling suffered his injury on December 30, and despite initial hopes it would be a quick one to bounce back from, the worse case scenario has panned out.

The Yorkshire Evening Post reported that Leeds’ move for De Bock came as a direct reaction to Ayling’s injury.

De Bock was a player ‘on their radar’ beforehand, but the decision to press ahead to sign him only came after the injury to the former Bristol City man, which Leeds kept under wraps.

Belgian De Bock is a left-back and Ayling a right-back, but Gaetano Berardi can shift to the right, and Vurnon Anita is also a natural right-back.

Leeds are reportedly paying £1.5 million to sign the Club Brugge star, and the move for a left-back is considered overdue. But it may not have happened at all had Ayling not got injured.