Whilst this does not often bring instant results, it has already been done to great effect with Illan Meslier, who has established himself as one of the best young goalkeepers in Europe (as per CIES Football Observatory findings) despite some notable mistakes earlier on in his time in Yorkshire.
The natural choice of the left-backs in whom the Whites have shown reported interest is Jesus Vazquez, and the 20-year-old remains on their radar despite the chase going somewhat cold.
It was tweeted by Total Futbol that Leeds are indeed interested, with the Yorkshire outfit willing to spend £7m to sign him. Sources at Leeds All Over subsequently suggested that this interest is “genuine”, albeit without clarity as to whether he will sign in January or the summer.
He is seen as part of a long-term project, which makes sense given his immense talent at such a young age. He has caught the eye in Europe, with Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig outlining him as an “exciting prospect“.
With just 24 senior appearances under his belt, it is a testament to how impressively Vazquez has burst onto the scene that he is already being touted with a big move.
In in his debut first-team campaign last season, he established himself as a fine defensive influence with flashes of creativity. He made 1.6 tackles per game alongside winning 4.6 duels per 90, while a match average of 0.4 key passes and a 74% dribble success rate outlined his offensive qualities (via Sofascore).
Very much a work in progress, the foundation is in place with which to build a remarkable defender for the foreseeable future.
Leeds are badly stuck for a reliable natural first-team left-back, so this prospective deal could fix what is arguably the biggest problem plaguing them at the moment after the recent signings of Max Wober and Georgino Rutter.
