Three Premier League Players Leeds United Should Look To Sign This Summer
As I’ve written before, gaining promotion is very simple! Players of Premier League quality plying their trade in the Championship tends to lead to a successful campaign. It’s easy really. Alright, it’s not that easy as fees are huge and too many players with egos do not wish to make the step down.
That said, some with Premier League pedigree are willing to take the step down for a number of reasons; regular football, ageing, winning games on a regular basis and many more besides. The likes of John Terry may be doing their thing at this level next term if Aston Villa get their way and more EPL throw-outs might follow.
Here we look at three players from the top division who could make a huge difference at Elland Road.
Phil Jagielka (Everton)
The Everton man is about to be shown the door at Goodison Park after ten years of excellent service for club and country. You would have thought that, as a Sheffield United man and with his club now back at this level, he would leave for Bramall Lane if anywhere.
The thing is though that money and success talk. Leeds can offer a bigger salary than the Blades and have a talented squad – one that manager Thomas Christiansen thinks can get him to the Premier League in a year’s time and that would be a big draw for Jagielka.
With only Pontus Jansson and Liam Cooper looking like good enough central defenders at the club, Jagielka would also add much needed cover to that position.
Lucas Piazon (Chelsea)
The Brazilian’s loan at Fulham is now over and he lost some time there due to a face injury. Chelsea would be open to offers for the forward and he’d add some flair to the Leeds attacking line-up.
Hadi Sacko has signed a permanent deal and Kemar Roofe should improve again this season, but title winners in recent times such as Newcastle have had cover in these positions and had players on the bench who can change games in an instant and this is where Piazon could prove to be vital.
Erik Pieters (Stoke City)
Leeds definitely need a proper replacement for Charlie Taylor, not just to cover the position defensively as that can be achieved by playing Gaetano Berardi, but so as not to lose any attacking impetus on the left hand side.
Pieters would add plenty in this position and may well be surplus to requirements at Stoke, despite his undoubted quality. Mark Hughes is thought to be in the market for a new left-back, and as such, the Dutchman could be tempted to a club promising a title-chasing campaign.