Leeds United appear to be prioritizing the signing of a new right-sided center-back this summer.
According to Graham Smyth of the Yorkshire Evening Post, who remarked on Twitter yesterday that this is where they are now putting the most of their attention.
Leeds are down to just three senior centre-backs ahead of the season’s opening day on Sunday, with Robin Koch, Diego Llorente, and Max Wober all on loan.
Although Pascal Struijk and Liam Cooper look to be Daniel Farke’s current first-choice pairing, they are both left-footed, and acquiring a new right-sided defender would improve the team’s balance.
Of course, Charlie Cresswell is an option, but he appears to have a lot of work to do if he wants to become a regular at Elland Road.
Leeds must go to any length this summer to sign Harwood-Bellis.
Taylor Harwood-Bellis of Manchester City has been linked with a move to Liverpool after being named as a target during the summer.
According to Alan Nixon, Leeds would compete with Fulham and West Ham for Harwood-Bellis, with City demanding a sum of £15 million for his services.
Despite having only a year left on his City contract, Harwood-Bellis would be worth every penny after establishing himself as one of, if not the, greatest centre-back in the league on loan at Burnley last season.
Farke wants to employ a more possession-based style at Leeds this season, and Harwood-Bellis’ skill on the ball would help take that build up from the back to the next level.
Despite his young age, Harwood-Bellis has already demonstrated his skills as a leader, captaining England’s U21s to victory at the EUROs in Georgia last month without conceding a goal.
A front three of Harwood Bellis, Struijk, and Ethan Ampadu would undoubtedly be the finest technically in the division, giving Farke the best foundation to implement his strategies.
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