Why Leeds United signing Joe Bryan will be a right move for the club

As per reports from the Bristol Post, Leeds United are interested in making a move for Bristol City left-back Joe Bryan this summer.

The Whites, having appointed Marcelo Bielsa as their new manager, have managed to make two signings so far in the summer transfer window, with midfielder Lewis Baker and goalkeeper Jamal Blackman arriving on loan from Premier League side Chelsea.

However, the Argentine manager remains keen on bolstering his ranks ahead of the new season, as he looks to lead the Yorkshire based outfit to a better finish than the 13th-place finish they achieved in the 2017/18 season.

One of the major areas that needs improvement for the Whites ahead of the season is the left-back position.

Having lost Charlie Taylor last summer, the club went into the campaign with Gaetano Berardi as the only senior left-back in the squad, with Vurnon Anita able to fill in if needed.

Leeds also signed Cameron Borthwick-Jackson on loan from Manchester United but none of them was able to nail down a starting berth.

The Whites then brought in Belgian left-back Laurens de Bock in January but that signing misfired. Academy product Tom Pearce managed to impress towards the end of the season but given his lack of experience at this level, trusting him to be the first-choice week in week out could easily backfire.

And hence, a new left-sided full-back is the need of the hour for Leeds. Bryan could be the solution to their problems.

Having come through the Bristol City academy, Bryan had loan spells away at Bath City and Plymouth before establishing himself as a first-team regular at the Ashton Gate. Till date, the full-back has gone on to feature 229 times for the Robins, scoring 21 goals in the process and registering 29 assists.

In the 2017/18 season, the full-back went on to score 7 goals and set up 3 more in 48 appearances across all competitions and was one of the best left-backs in the Championship.

Bryan was also extremely impressive in the Robins’ Carabao Cup semi-final run this season, scoring against Manchester United along the way.

Strong and dependable at the back, Bryan is a solid defender and backs it up with great attacking intent as well. The 24-year old is adept at reading dangers, which allows him to get into good positions and make crucial interventions.

Moreover, he is extremely pacey as well and puts his speed to good use to recover when caught out of position.

Add to that, his dribbling abilities and the quality end product, and Leeds will have a solid, proven and reliable left-back who would be a threat on the overlap as well.

Bryan, at 24, has his best years ahead of him and considering his recent rise with Bristol City, the only way for him from here is up. Leeds should act fast and snap him up this summer and address a key issue in the team, as they look to mount a promotion bid.