The search for a left-back is now gathering pace at Leeds United with Junior Firpo widely expected to join Real Betis on a free transfer, leaving The Whites with a gaping hole on the left of their defence.
Firpo was a mainstay for Leeds last season and Sam Byram acted as cover. But Firpo is now set for Betis and Byram himself could leave Elland Road too, with the Thorp Arch talent also out of contract at Leeds.
Leeds then, need a left-back. On Wednesday morning, reports emerged that Leeds want Lille left-back Gabriel Gudmundsson with the Sweden international about to enter the final year of his Lille contract.
Graham Smyth says Leeds are ‘very keen’ on Gudmundsson but he is not the only left-sided defender touted with a move to Elland Road. Indeed, a current Liverpool left-back is also linked with Leeds.
Liverpool Training Session
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Konstantinos Tsimikas delivers verdict on Liverpool future
Konstantinos Tsimikas is a £15m target for Leeds, with the Greece star expected to leave Anfield in the coming weeks if Liverpool do end up signing Milos Kerkez in a £40m deal from AFC Bournemouth.
Speaking to Greek outlet Sport24, Tsimikas says the prospect of more game time is a “temptation”. But the left-back implied he is happy at Liverpool and is willing to remain back-up, if he is used rotationally.
“It’s definitely a temptation to play more. But for me the 27-29 games I play every year in all competitions are more than playing 40 for another team and in another league, here I am on the Broadway of football.
“I’m happy here, for five years I’ve always been happy with these players I had by my side and with the jersey I wore. It’s very difficult to reach such a level, to play in 27 games in a season with a Liverpool shirt.
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“I would definitely like to play more, but from then on in this league, with this team I was always happy and I always gave my best, so I was okay with the games I played,” Tsimikas explained to Greek media.
Liverpool FC Training Session And Press Conference - UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 Second Leg
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Why Leeds need to avoid Konstantinos Tsimikas this summer
There is no doubt that Tsimikas would be a decent signing. Not least because he is an experienced player in the Premier League, but because he is a winner and is likely one of the best-available left-back options.
His arrival would also see Leeds replace the loss of Joe Rothwell, in terms of a set-piece specialist. But, Graeme Bailey has told LeedsUnited.News that Tsimikas would easily be Leeds’ highest-paid player.
Tsimikas would be a good signing, but is his quality worthy of becoming the club’s highest-paid player? Probably not. Leeds can do better, for cheaper – with Gudmundsson a prime example of just that.