When the transfer market opens on Friday, Leeds United will be hoping to make an immediate impact.
Clubs may legally begin doing transfer business at the end of this week, and Leeds could surely benefit from a quick start after losing the play-off final.
Leeds’ failure to make a signing until the third week of July last summer cost them promotion last season, but Paraag Marathe has already stated that they are in a better position to capitalise this time around.
Along with Daniel Farke, members of Leeds’ newly established recruitment team under 49ers Enterprises will have been working hard behind the scenes on potential targets.
Farke has already spoken with Brenden Aaronson about returning to the club following the completion of his loan stay, which should be a strong sign that he is working behind the scenes.
Ben Jacobs provides an update on Leeds’ Alfie Gilchrist pursuit.
Links to Leeds have been few and far between, but a few names have been cited in recent weeks.
Soon-to-be free agents Bobby de Cordova-Reid is thought to be a player Leeds are interested in, and Excelsior winger Couhaib Driouech was also named by the Dutch media on Tuesday.
However, the first definite name to emerge as a prospective target was teenage Chelsea defender Alfie Gilchrist, with Ben Jacobs suggesting that Leeds, Blackburn Rovers, and Preston North End are all interested in taking him on loan.
And Jacobs gave an update on that chase on the Just Joe Football Show on Tuesday night, suggesting that Leeds may have to wait until after pre-season to finalize a deal, but that he is ‘open’ to a move.
He stated, “The feeling is he will be loaned out to a Championship club; that is the idea and the player’s intention. Chelsea is unlikely to think otherwise in his position. The only question is when in the window, since some clubs like to move the player over to pre-season first.
“I am confident that he will join a Championship club in the coming weeks, although it could be in late July or early August due to what I mentioned. Leeds, Preston, and Blackburn are the three clubs that have taken a formative approach.
“To all intents and purposes, Gilchrist would be open to moving to Leeds. He has a lot of respect for Chelsea, and despite their rivalry, he would move to Leeds. He would be eager to help Leeds compete for promotion.”
Gilchrist would offer Leeds variety at the back.
Gilchrist broke into Chelsea’s first team last season, making 17 appearances across all competitions, including a start against Leeds in the FA Cup.
He spent the majority of his time as a right-back under Mauricio Pochettino and even scored his first goal for the club against Everton.
Jamie Redknapp praised his performance against Tottenham at the beginning of May as ‘outstanding’, which is all the more amazing given that he spent the majority of his time in Chelsea’s academy at centre-back.
With that in mind, Gilchrist is definitely capable of playing both right and centre-back, which is ideal for Leeds, who need to reinforce both positions.
