Leeds United are likely to sign a new full-back this summer to provide cover on the left side of the defence, but one alternative has demonstrated what the club is missing after making his debut on Sunday.
Junior Firpo is the sole left-footed left-back in Daniel Farke’s team, with injury-prone Sam Byram providing cover on the left and right. Clearly, Leeds require another fullback before the deadline.
The Whites have been linked with several full-backs. Leeds reportedly shown interest in 33-year-old Switzerland international Michael Lang, who is a free agent.
Another option is Spanish left-back Hugo Bueno, but the Whites were unable to sign the 21-year-old from Wolves. The “excellent” Bueno joined Feyenoord last week, after Leeds were linked with a deal for him.
Hugo Bueno excels in Feyenoord debut following Leeds links
Feyenoord only drew their first league game of the season following Arne Slot’s departure, but they returned to form on Sunday with a 5-1 victory over Zwolle, with Bueno making his Feyenoord debut.
Anselmo MacNulty, a Spain-born Ireland U21 star linked to Leeds, also appeared in the game. But it was Bueno who came out on top, scoring his first Feyenoord assist in just four minutes.
Picking up the ball on the left wing, level with the penalty area, he performed a few stepovers before delivering a beautiful cross into the box for Igor Paixao to head home, 15 seconds into the video below.
Leeds has a dilemma trying to sign Premier League players on loan.
Following the links with Bueno, a paper revealed why Leeds had a problem signing Premier League players on loan. Premier League clubs will only let periphery players move on loan if they start.
Would Bueno have started for Leeds? Or, simply said, he would have been brought to Elland Road to cover for Firpo, implying that his function at Wolves is identical to his projected role at Leeds.
According to the report, Leeds missed out on Fabio Carvalho, who signed for Brentford in January for £27.5 million. Carvalho joined Hull on loan in January after Leeds failed to provide assurances.
