Leeds United are reportedly interested in the Aston Villa man.
According to a report in the print edition of The Sun today (page 52), Leeds United are interested in signing Aston Villa pair Tommy Elphick and Ross McCormack.
Signing a tried-and-tested striker is arguably of greater importance for a Leeds side who sit 10th in the Championship and three points adrift of the top six.
But Elphick is a very decent centre-back who, if he signs, will certainly add something to United’s squad – but what would his arrival mean for Conor Shaughnessy?
The 21-year-old defender has impressed at centre-back at times for the Whites this season, with his display in the League Cup win at Burnley seen as something of a coming-of-age performance for the young Irishman in his breakthrough season at Elland Road.
However, Shaughnessy, signed as a defensive midfielder from Reading in 2016, would undoubtedly suffer as a result of Elphick’s arrival.
Should Leeds sign the 30-year-old defender, head coach Thomas Christiansen would have Elphick, Pontus Jansson, Liam Cooper and Matthew Pennington as central defensive options, suggesting that fans won’t see a great deal of Shaughnessy for the rest of the season.
Christiansen has used him in midfield occasionally, but the addition of Adam Forshaw and Leeds’ already fierce competition for places in this department means that Shaughnessy is also unlikely to figure in that role, not to mention the fact he hasn’t looked great there.
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