Leeds United are interested in signing Barcelona defender Junior Firpo this summer as their search for a new left-back continues.
The Lowdown: Leeds look for new left-back
Marcelo Bielsa will be eyeing up reinforcements throughout his squad in the summer transfer window, but left-back could be a priority position for the manager.
With Ezgjan Alioski’s future very much up in the air, additions in that area could be essential as Leeds look to continue their current rise.
[freshpress-quiz id=“359346″]
The Latest: Whites interested in signing Firpo
According to The Yorkshire Evening Post’s Graham Smyth, the Whites are keen on bringing Firpo to the club, with the Spaniard being described as a ‘strong candidate’ at left-back. A number of other clubs are also interested in signing the 24-year-old, though, with Napoli mentioned in the report.
Firpo made just seven appearances for Barca in La Liga last season, struggling to oust first-choice left-back Jordi Alba from the starting lineup (Transfermarkt).
[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-news-6/” title=”Latest Leeds United news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=“none”]
The Verdict: Exciting left-back option
Firpo seems to be an ideal option for Leeds, given his age and style of play, with his peak years not likely to arrive for a while.
The Spaniard enjoyed an 89.7& pass completion rate in the league last season, which suggest that he could thrive in Bielsa’s possession-based system. Admittedly he wasn’t always tested defensively at Barca – he only averaged 0.1 tackles per game – but his tally of 1.8 for Real Betis in 2018/19 suggests he can thrive in that area when required.
Leeds could do a lot worse than considering a move for Firpo, who may want a move to a club where he might enjoy more regular game-time.
In other news, a pundit has claimed one Leeds player could be sold this summer. Find out who it is here.