Leeds United has to move quickly as deadline day approaches. The Championship promotion contenders have not added to their roster as three periphery players, including Luke Ayling, are permitted to go on loan from Elland Road.
Not that the Whites haven’t been linked to a ton of incoming players this January; however, Leeds’ lack of quality depth may have been exposed in the FA Cup after an unsatisfactory 1-1 home draw against Plymouth Argyle. As a result, a lot of players may join the team between now and the end of the transfer window.
If the rumors about the two players on Leeds’ long shopping list are true, they are teammates at the international level who might provide a significant boost to the Whites.
Wales star to Leeds
The Whites are apparently interested in signing David Brooks, a winger for AFC Bournemouth, as well as Connor Roberts, a fellow Welshman, in order to finally bolster their right-back lineup.
Journalist Ben Jacobs, speaking to GIVEMESPORT, called the full-back a “concrete target” for Leeds, but a follow-up piece by Daily Mail writer Simon Jones has since verified that Daniel Farke’s team is interested in signing the Burnley man.
Roberts is aching for more first-team experience after spending this season on the outside at Turf Moor.
Roberts, a 28-year-old offensive full-back who scored four goals under Vincent Kompany to help Burnley win the second division title just the season before, could inspire Leeds to further upset the entrenched Championship top two.
Both of the players in question, with Crysencio Summerville and Junior Firpo occasionally rendering the opposition left side unplayable, could make Leeds difficult to stop down that flank if Brooks was acquired as an additional right midfield option to allay worries that Daniel James would be in the Whites’ treatment room for some time.
Roberts’ potential position on the Leeds squad
Roberts might easily start for the Whites right now, as Archie Gray, who is more of a natural in midfield, has had to start at right-back 17 times this season.
The Clarets defender made his debut with the Leeds first team and quickly made an impression, as evidenced by his second-tier figures throughout his career to date, which totaled 20 assists and 15 goals across 173 Championship games.
In addition to Brooks’ equally impressive production in the Championship—nine goals and eleven assists in 69 appearances—both players have the potential to create a formidable duo at Elland Road should Leeds pull off a late rush of signings.
Described as being a “excellent” player by his former Swansea City coach Steve Cooper during Roberts’ tenure with the Swans, Roberts would provide Leeds that added nous too of what it takes to get promoted via the top two. Given that the Whites are now making a lot of effort to portray themselves as automatic promotion candidates, that would be really helpful.
It may have been a wise decision to sign both of these former second-tier players to increase Leeds’ chances of earning automatic promotion this season. Brooks and Roberts have a history of playing well together for Wales, and Ethan Ampadu has also performed well on the international stage alongside the Leeds targets.
If no deals are done during this transfer window and injuries start to bother Farke’s team more, they will feel vulnerable, and it would be prudent to make a move for Brooks and Roberts.
