Leeds United appear to be in a strong position to recruit a “exceptional” defender before the January transfer deadline, according to a fresh report.
The Whites appear to be on the lookout for the appropriate addition at the back, after Daniel Farke and the club chose to loan Luke Ayling to Middlesbrough and end Djed Spence‘s season-long loan earlier this month.
Teenager Archie Gray has continued to play right-back, while Junior Firpo has recently been injury-free on the left side, with Sam Byram capable of filling in on either side. Junior Firpo has hinted at the necessity for additions at the back, saying earlier in the window:
“We could do with more numbers in defensive positions. But in the last weeks, there was a chance for other players to step up – like [Junior] Firpo and [Ilia] Gruev.
“I won’t lie. A few additions in defensive positions would be helpful. But it has to make sense for us. If not, we go with what we’ve got and I trust my group. We are in a good position. We didn’t win it in the lottery. We won it with good development.”
Tottenham Hotspur’s Ben Davies, West Ham’s Ben Johnson, and Burnley’s Connor Roberts are among the full-backs linked with a transfer to Yorkshire, as is Liverpool’s Calvin Ramsay, who was a target at Elland Road in 2022. A new update has emerged on the latter of the quartet, after his loan spell at Preston North End ended earlier this month. Leeds are leading the battle to recruit Ramsay.
According to The Daily Mail on Wednesday, Leeds, and by extension its owners, the 49ers Enterprises, are leading the charge and appear to be in prime position to recruit Ramsay on loan for the rest of the season.
Loan spaces remain open in Leeds’ roster, with current loanee Joe Rodon shining at the back for Farke following his transfer from Tottenham. With the obvious need for another full-back, Ramsay may be a wise acquisition and someone who has been on the Leeds radar for a number of years.
The Scotland international made only two games for Preston, missing much of the season owing to a knee injury, so it is something Leeds should consider. There are great aspirations for Ramsay at Anfield, with Jurgen Klopp previously saying:
“Everything we heard about him was that he is a fantastic boy. And what a player he is – what he did for Aberdeen last year, absolutely exceptional. In his age group and you know the things we need from a full-back, he is as close as it gets to the things we want and is still a kid. So we really expect a lot from him in the long term.”
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