Ben Godfrey signs: Realistic last-minute transfers Leeds United should try and secure

FLW look at four realistic options Leeds United could look at as the transfer window draws to a close.

HIGHLIGHTS

With just a few days remaining to close deals, Leeds United is searching for reinforcements this January because they don’t seem to have enough full-backs at the present.

 

That underscores the goals for the Whites, coming after the exits of Djed Spence and Luke Ayling. West Yorkshire saw a lot of change over the summer, both in terms of new players and departures. However, more may be required to push them over the finish line and determine whether they earn a play-off spot or immediate promotion.

Championship automatic promotion race (As it stands January 28th)
	Team	P	GD	Pts
1	Leicester City	28	34	66
2	Ipswich Town	28	16	59
3	Southampton	28	21	58
4	Leeds United	29	25	57

Up until now, Farke has been forced to make due with the team at his disposal. The German manager has had plenty of

time to evaluate his team further and identify any further faults that require

attention. Archie Gray, who has mostly performed brilliantly, was forced to take

over at right-back as Leeds continues to struggle to find a suitable replacement.

However, he is perhaps not the long-term answer, with Leeds’ issue at full-

back being that the likes of Spence, Junior Firpo, Sam Byram, and Jamie

Shackleton have all been injured for much of the season. The latter three have

had poor injury records for plenty of their career so far, too.

 

A pair of full-backs is required, with Farke tending to operate with one as a

high and wide player, capable of dominating a whole flank, and a more

defensive and conservative player, who will tuck in and invert into central areas.

 

The same is true of Leeds’ wingers, with Dan James operating as the touchline winger for the most part on the right –

playing high and wide, and it makes little sense for the club to sign the same

profile at right-back, as Leeds require that more in the left-back slot.

Leeds has already been connected to a wide range of possibilities, but in light of that, here are four potential additions Leeds could consider making before the transfer window closes.

Ben Godfrey

Godfrey is reportedly a target for Leeds during the last few days of this month, with the Whites keen to reunite Farke with the ex-Norwich defender.

The 26-year-old has been connected to a move to Elland Road by a number of publications, including Football Insider, which asserts that Sean Dyche has given the defender permission to leave Goodison Park during the January transfer window.

 

In the last hours of the January transfer window, Leeds is reportedly among several clubs interested in out-of-favor

Everton defender Godfrey, including Sheffield United of the Premier League.

These rumors come from the Italian daily Calcio Mercato.

 

Given that he can play both center defense and full back and that his usage

will probably rely on injuries, Godfrey might be a great addition. Since he has

experience playing for Farke, he will be aware of the exact tactical demands

made on him, hence can fit right in with little need for adjustment time.

He would suit Leeds’ more conservative and inverted full-back role well, freeing up the opposite full-back to have that license to get forward, whilst also providing extra depth at centre-back, with Charlie Cresswell’s future remaining somewhat uncertain.

Sergio Gomez

Gomez could easily play both of Leeds’ full-back positions because the team’s other full-back like to play higher and wider and the other more conservatively, inverting and drifting into central zones.

With his skill set, Gomez could accomplish two goals at once. Byram, on the other hand, has demonstrated his

ability to play both of these roles well and is comfortable switching from the

left to the right foot in a central fashion. Gomez would also be skilled in this position because the Man City left-back

spent a significant portion of his career playing central midfield.

 

His innate inclination is to participate in games where his distribution can have an impact on the outcome. When

deployed, Firpo has done a good job filling the attacking-minded left-back

position, but he has a dreadful injury history, and Gomez is far more reliable.

Gomez could operate as the inverted full-back, or bomb down the left flank with his creativity, perhaps adding a new dynamic that only Firpo can offer, albeit on an irregular basis. The Man City man could also cover midfield positions, if the likes of Byram or Godfrey are to operate at full-back paired with Firpo, so there would be plenty of game time to convince his current club with and a loan deal could suit all parties.

Connor Roberts

Following Ayling’s departure from the West Yorkshire outfit, Burnley’s Connor Roberts was said to be seen as a potential replacement, according to Darren Witcoop of the Sunday Mirror.

 

He started eight of the first nine Premier League games for the Clarets, but has since been restricted to substitute appearances from the bench. Burnley have instead opted for Vitinho to fill the void at right-back.

 

Roberts has that availability aspect which the likes of Firpo and Byram lack, and could be a decent addition into the squad, whilst he was also a crucial part of a team who won promotion last season from the second tier, which is perhaps part of the rationale behind any deal as well.

He is maybe more akin to Byram in terms of profile and is less defensive-minded than Godfrey would be for the right-back position. This gives him more versatility as a backup right-back option because he can play as both an attacking full-back and a more conservative role.

Harry Toffolo

Harry Toffolo has previously proven his quality at second tier level, with Leeds’

West Yorkshire rivals, Huddersfield Town. On loan, he could be just the

solution Leeds need, considering he has a far stronger injury record than either

of Byram or Firpo over the last few years.

Although his footballing skills may not be a significant upgrade, he would be easily obtainable and had the caliber to be a

top-tier left-back in a championship setting. Leeds, who are most likely

looking to add an attack-minded left-back this month, might provide Toffolo

greater playing time and the opportunity to be a part of an offensive unit.

 

He wouldn’t necessarily be a long-term player for the team at 28, but he would

be a much-needed profile that could come in and have an immediate impact

on their left side, especially with Firpo and Byram still on their books.

The side would benefit greatly from Toffolo controlling the left flank, which

would also allow Crysencio Summerville greater flexibility to move around the

pitch. When paired with an inverted right-back, he might be a wise addition

and precisely what Leeds needs for the last stretch of the second half.