Leeds United need to sign a centre-back this summer.
Marcelo Bielsa jets into Yorkshire ahead of Monday’s return to pre-season training at Leeds United’s Thorp Arch, and he will already be aware that the squad needs serious investment if they are to mount a promotion challenge.
The club needs a new striker after Pierre-Michel Lasogga was told he would not be given a permanent deal, while a new goalkeeper is also likely to be a top priority after Felix Wiedwald moved back to Germany with Eintracht Frankfurt.
Leeds are also lacking in an experienced left-back, but a centre-back should be one of Bielsa’s top priorities after Matt Pennington returned to Everton.
Captain Liam Cooper struggled last season, meaning Bielsa needs to bring an experience centre-back capable of helping Leeds to achieve promotion from the Championship to partner Pontus Jansson.
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With the World Cup the best scouting pool for clubs at the moment, Bielsa should be keeping his eye on a potential new centre-back to add to his squad. It should see his head turn towards Australia’s Trent Sainsbury.
Spanish newspaper AS claim 26-year-old centre-back Sainsbury has 26 offers on the table from around the world, and judging on his performances for Australia against France and Denmark.
The centre-back has shown a quality of defending that would win the hearts of Elland Road supporters, putting his body on the line for the Socceroos and helping them come within a whisker of taking points off of France.
The former Inter Milan loanee is likely to be on the move this summer, after being loaned to Swiss side Grasshopper from Chinese Super League outfit Jiangsu Suning.
Strong in the air, comfortable on the ball and the commanding aura of a leader, Sainsbury would be the perfect partner for Jansson ahead of the 2018-19 season.
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