Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Graham Smyth says he knows there are four positions Leeds United are definitely look at right now, but thinks there should be more, too.
While a lot of the focus in the media has been on outgoings, Leeds have so far made three new additions, with plenty more needing to follow.
Leeds’ squad is undoubtedly weaker right now than how it ended the season, having lost a plethora of first team and fringe players, leaving them with little in the way of depth.
Joe Rodon has returned to bolster Daniel Farke‘s centre-back options, yet the departures of Charlie Cresswell and Liam Cooper (likely) leaves them weaker.
Alex Cairns has replaced Kristoffer Klaesson as third choice goalkeeper, while Joe Rothwell adds to a crop of midfielders which is also now lighter on numbers after losing Archie Gray and Glen Kamara.
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Smyth says there are four positions he knows Leeds are targeting
Much of Leeds’ business is going to depend on who else leaves the club between now and the end of the window, but it is hard to ignore how threadbare some positions are.
Having lost Gray, Connor Roberts and Jamie Shackleton, Leeds have just two recognised full-backs at their disposal, both of which are injury prone, with one also potentially leaving in Junior Firpo.
Leeds would also run into serious issues if one of Pascal Struijk or Joe Rodon were to get injured, which certainly isn’t beyond the realms of possibility given how much football the former missed last season.
It would lead to Ethan Ampadu having to drop back into cover again, but that would then leave Leeds equally as short in a different area of the pitch.
Speaking on the latest episode of the Inside Elland Road Podcast, though, Smyth has moved to ease fans’ concerns by confirming the club are looking at right-backs, centre-backs, midfielders and wingers.
He said: “I would be absolutely stunned if not, we know they have been looking at others [midfielders]. We know they have been looking at wingers, right-back is a big area of concern and we know they have been looking at other centre-backs too.
“I haven’t heard if they have been looking at strikers but I really hope they have, and a number 10 as well. There is a lot to do.”
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Who could Leeds target in those four positions?
At right-back, it has been well documented that Jayden Bogle and former loanee Roberts are their main two targets.
Two offers have been rejected for the former by Sheffield United, while Roberts is seemingly an option in case that pursuit of Bogle fails.
At centre-back, Leeds are going to have find at least one who would be happy to come and play second fiddle to Rodon and Struijk, which may be difficult. Links have been sparse.
In midfield, Oliver Skipp has been mentioned on a couple of occasions but it would appear he has no interest in dropping down to the Championship. Having said that, someone with more of a goal threat than what Kamara offered would be useful.
If Summerville and Gnonto were to leave, out wide would be the most complex position to strengthen of the summer.
It is going to be almost impossible finding players of their ability within budget at this level. Liam Millar has been linked, but in no way is he good enough to replace either of them.
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