Daniel Farke’s first summer saw Leeds United desperate for additions in the middle of the defence and eventually, the club signed Joe Rodon on loan from Tottenham Hotspur.
The Wales defender became one of four centre-backs at Leeds alongside Liam Cooper, Pascal Struijk and Charlie Cresswell. But Cooper was injured for much of his last season, and Cresswell was ostracised.
So much so that when Struijk got injured in January, Daniel Farke turned to Ethan Ampadu to drop into the defence instead of bringing Cresswell back into the fold or placing his entire trust in captain Cooper.
Cooper and Cresswell left in the summer of 2024, with Cresswell shining for Toulouse in France and even scoring on Sunday. Max Wober returned but Wober is now expected to leave at the end of the campaign.
Leeds can rectify 2023 mistake with £15m Southampton deal
During Farke’s first summer at Elland Road, Leeds held talks to sign Taylor Harwood-Bellis. Described as “incredible” by Pep Guardiola as per The Daily Echo, Harwood-Bellis chose to join Southampton instead.
That loan became permanent when Southampton beat Leeds in the play-off final at Wembley, meaning a clause in the loan activated. But with Southampton on the verge of relegation, Harwood-Bellis wants out.
The Sun’s Alan Nixon reports on his Patreon channel that England defender Harwood-Bellis does not want to return to the Championship and West Ham are keen with a fee of £15m required to sign him.
Leeds desperately need centre-backs with Wober set to go and Struijk suffering more than his fair share of injuries. If promoted, a £15m deal for Harwood-Bellis would see Leeds rectify not signing him in 2023.
What Charlie Cresswell has said about Taylor Harwood-Bellis
Of course, there will be a number of clubs eyeing Harwood-Bellis in the summer with Southampton likely to be relegated and the defender becoming an England international – scoring on his debut in November.
Cresswell knows Harwood-Bellis better than most and prior to England U21’s Euros win in 2023, Cresswell described Harwood-Bellis as “great to have around” and the Saints defender has such a “loud voice”.
Southampton will be relegated and it looks as if Leeds will replace them in the Premier League. With The Whites in need of centre-backs and admirers of Harwood-Bellis in the past, it makes sense to do a deal.
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