With just a few hours remaining in the transfer market, Leeds United are looking to pull off a last-minute deal for Everton defender Matthew Pennington. That’s according to Express , and the report also claims that the defender prefers a move to Elland Road over other clubs like Blackburn Rovers and Wigan Athletic. Reports suggest that Bielsa is likely to sign the 23-year-old defender before the deadline. Pennington had enjoyed a decent loan spell last season with the Whites.
Marcelo Bielsa went on to explain how he sets up his squad before the last day of the transfer market. He said,”Usually, I like to have two players for every position. Of a group of 22 players, 18 have the same level. And I like to have four youngsters that can improve their level to become first-team players.”
Pennington played most of his games last season in the centre back position, but he is also known for his versatility as he can fill in the right back role as well. It is not yet clear whether United will buy him on a permanent basis. However, we estimate that it will be a loan spell as the Toffees had offered him a new contract in May this year which ties him at the club until 2021.
Leeds United are off to a great start in the Championship as they went past much fancied Stoke City side with relative ease as they secured a 3-1 win. However, they started with Gaetano Berardi in the centre back position who is primarily a right back. Going by Bielsa’s logic, the Whites are short on one centre-half as they only have the likes of Pontus Jansson, Liam Cooper and Conor Shaughnessy as outright centre-backs.
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There is a place for one more centre-back in the squad, and the signing of Pennigton will add more stability and depth to United’s team as they look to challenge for the playoffs under Bielsa.
