Roda JC left-back Ard Van Peppen has been linked to Leeds United.
Leeds United’s Charlie Taylor
Leeds United look set to lose a highly-rated, homegrown left-back this summer. Though a deal with West Brom is on a knife edge thanks to manager Tony Pulis’ reluctance to pay a big fee at a tribunal (Sky Sports), Charlie Taylor appears certain to leave Elland Road with his contract expiring.
However, the man Leeds have reportedly lined up to replace the York-born 23-year-old will hardly get the pulses racing.
31-year-old Roda JC left-back Ard Van Peppen is supposedly the new name in the frame for The Whites, Roda JC Live reports. A sturdy defender, the Dutchman featured 32 times in the Eredivisie last season as Roda retained their place in the top division by virtue of the relegation play-off.
Van who?
However, it’s fair to say Van Peppen is not the most exciting name linked with Leeds of late. The experienced full-back has spent his entire career in The Netherlands without ever really setting the world alight or drawing too much attention to himself.
Another left-wing target for Leeds United manager Thomas Christiansen
31-year-old Van Peppen is not a former player of Ajax and PSV, instead turning out for the likes of Excelsior, De Graafschap and RKC Waalwijk.
However, you wonder whether reports that Leeds will attempt to take him away from his homeland in the summer suggest that Gaetano Berardi will remain the club’s first choice left-back.
Leeds United’s Gaetano Berardi
The Swiss defender filled in to great effect when Taylor was injured midway through last season, proving that the grass could even be greener after the local lad jumped ship.
And Van Peppen certainly seems like a player designed to improve the squad depth rather than the starting XI, meaning Berardi could be set for an extended role in the Leeds starting XI.
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