Leeds are reportedly interested in signing Wolves defender Batth.
Leeds United’s summer-long pursuit of a new centre-back has seen them reportedly turn to Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Danny Batth this summer, but signing the defender would be harsh on a current Leeds star.
The Daily Mirror claimed on their live transfer blog (Thursday, 03:57am) that Leeds were rivalling Sheffield Wednesday to sign the 27-year-old on loan from Wolves before Friday’s 5pm deadline.
Indeed, the Whites started the season with only Liam Cooper as the club’s only recognised, available central defender. It has since seen Luke Ayling and Gaetano Berardi play in the middle of defence.
The return of Pontus Jansson, who was given an extended break after his exploits with Sweden in Russia this summer, had eased Marcelo Bielsa’s concerns at centre-back. But a hamstring injury suffered by Cooper has opened that gap.
The interest in Batth comes as unsurprising, then. But one Leeds player can count himself as highly unlucky, and indeed a bit frustrated if the club do strike a deal for the former Sheffield Wednesday stopper.
Conor Shaughnessy has finally overcome an ankle problem which has kept him sidelined since January to return to the fold under Bielsa, seeing out the entire 90 minutes against Preston on Tuesday.
The former Reading man is yet to convince the majority of Leeds fans, especially after conceding a penalty in his debut against Bolton last season before doing the same against Preston in the Carabao Cup this week.
But in his 15 appearances he has shown glimpses of quality, a defensive maturity someone well beyond his age of 22 years. Comfortable on the ball, warrior-like in the tackle and at 6ft 3in, he has everything required to blossom.
Give the one-time Republic of Ireland Under-21 international a chance to shine with regular game time, and surely the defender will prove to be a signing of his own. But signing Batth is only going to push the Irishman backwards.
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