Leeds United surely must have offered sign that they are close to sealing first January signing

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Luke Ayling is set to bring his seven-and-a-half-year stay at Leeds United to an end imminently.

Ayling is set to undergo a medical at Middlesbrough ahead of a loan move until the end of the season, according to the Athletic.

The 32-year-old, along with Liam Cooper and Stuart Dallas, are all out of contract in the summer and unlikely to be offered new deals, and so Ayling has taken the decision to move on, all be it only on loan.

In terms of what it means for Leeds, they are now two right-backs shorter than what they were at the start of the window, with Djed Spence having also had his loan from Tottenham ended early last week.

Archie Gray has been first choice in that position for the last three months, but on the face of it, is still a 17-year-old playing out of position. It would be foolish to think they can rely on him until May.

Leeds now surely close to right-back signing

Jamie Shackleton did return to the Leeds side for the first time since October at Peterborough United on Sunday, and so at the moment, looks as though he is currently second choice.

However, Shackleton has struggled with persistent injury problems this season and like Gray, it would be a huge risk to think they can keep relying on him. That is especially when you consider both left-backs – Junior Firpo and Sam Byram – are also injury prone.

With that in mind, Leeds now surely must be confident of bringing in a new right-back in the near future. It would be crazy if they think they can get by without at least one coming in to replace Spence or Ayling.

Burnley’s Connor Roberts has been heavily linked over the last few days, while Nottingham Forest’s Neco Williams is said to be another player they like.

However, at this stage it is difficult to see either of their clubs sanctioning an exit at this stage, with Burnley not exactly blessed with depth at right-back, and Williams very much in Forest’s plans.