Leeds United Eye Surprise Free Signing as West Ham Prepare to Battle for 27-year-old Defender

Leeds United have been fairly quiet in terms of new arrivals this summer, with only four players coming through the door so far.

However, the club have spent heavily on improving the squad, with James Trafford, Nico Elvedi and Tarik Muharemovic all arriving to strengthen the defence.

Harry Wilson is the only attacking addition, joining on a free transfer after an excellent campaign with Fulham. The problem for Daniel Farke is that while the club have added quality, they have also lost several defensive players.

Max Wober, Isaac Schmidt, Sam Byram and Pascal Struijk have all left, while Sebastiaan Bornauw has moved away on loan.

That leaves Farke needing to think carefully about squad depth, particularly because his team has increasingly relied on a back three.

Now, Leeds could make a surprise move for a free agent who has already spent time playing at Bundesliga level.

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Leeds United consider Diogo Leite move

According to reports, Leeds are interested in Portuguese defender Diogo Leite, who is currently without a club after leaving Union Berlin.

The 27-year-old has been on the radar of the Whites for some time, and a free transfer would make the deal particularly attractive.

Leeds have already added Elvedi to their defensive options, but another centre-back could give Farke the numbers he needs to get through a full Premier League campaign.

The manager has regularly used three central defenders since switching to the back-three system. That means three players are required for every start, while another defender is usually needed on the bench.

Over a long season, injuries, suspensions and fatigue are almost guaranteed.

Leeds found that out last season when James Justin was required to play in the back three on occasions because Farke did not have enough natural centre-back options.

Adding Leite would reduce that problem. He could become the fifth senior centre-back in the squad and give Farke more freedom when rotating his team.

It would also mean that the manager would not have to move a full-back into the centre every time one of his main defenders is unavailable.

Diogo Leite transfer details

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West Ham could make the situation difficult

Leeds are not alone in looking at Leite. West Ham United are also believed to be interested in the defender and could make an approach if he remains available.

That could force Leeds to make a decision quickly. A free transfer is always attractive, particularly for a club that has already spent a significant amount of money this summer.

But the bigger question is whether Leite is the right fit for Farke’s system. The answer could be yes simply because of the depth he would provide.

Leeds do not necessarily need another defender to become an automatic starter. They need someone capable of stepping into the team when required and allowing Farke to rotate his squad without weakening the structure.

With four senior centre-backs already available, Leite would provide that extra layer of protection. The fact that he has Bundesliga experience also makes the move more interesting.

This would not be a case of Leeds bringing in an inexperienced player purely to increase numbers. Leite has played at a high level in Germany and should understand the demands of playing against strong opposition.

For a Premier League club trying to establish itself, that experience can be valuable.

Leeds still have a bigger problem at left-back

While another centre-back would be a sensible addition, Leeds have another defensive issue that arguably needs even more attention. The left-back position remains a concern.

Gabriel Gudmundsson is an important part of Farke’s team, but his recent injury problems have highlighted how little natural cover Leeds have in that position.

James Justin can provide an option when required, but relying on him every time Gudmundsson is unavailable would not be ideal. Justin is also useful as cover on the right, particularly behind Jayden Bogle.

That means moving him to the left could simply create another problem somewhere else. Leeds therefore need a natural left-footed defender who can provide competition for Gudmundsson without demanding a huge transfer fee.

That is where the club’s remaining transfer budget needs to be used carefully.

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Leeds defensive situation

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Seven days could decide Leeds’ final defensive moves

With only around a week remaining before the transfer window closes, the 49ers have some important decisions to make.

Signing Leite on a free transfer could be a smart piece of business. It would not require Leeds to spend a major fee, while giving Farke another experienced centre-back for his back-three system.

However, the club cannot afford to ignore the left-back position. Gudmundsson’s fitness is too important, and Justin cannot be expected to solve every defensive problem across an entire season.

The ideal situation for Leeds would be to bring in Leite while also finding a cheap and reliable left-back. That would leave Farke with much stronger depth across the defence and reduce the risk of another injury crisis forcing him to change his entire system.

Leeds have already shown this summer that they are prepared to spend heavily when they believe the right player is available.

The next few days will show whether they are willing to be equally smart with their remaining business.

A free transfer for Leite could be an easy win, but finding proper cover at left-back should arguably be the bigger priority before the deadline.

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