According to recent reports, Leeds United might part ways with their full-back Tom Pearce when the transfer window reopens in January with both Everton and Bournemouth keen to reignite their interest on the English youngster. The 20-year-old had penned a new four-year deal with the West Yorkshire club earlier this summer which would keep him at Elland Road until the summer of 2022.
However, with both the Toffees and the Cherries looking to secure the services of the Whites defender, it would be a tough ask for Marcelo Bielsa to hang on to his prized asset beyond this winter transfer period.
Tom Pearce: Player Profile
Pearce was born in Ormskirk, England and went on to play football for Everton before graduating from the Merseyside club’s academy. He made a move to Leeds United in the summer of 2014 and had worked his way up through the club’s youth teams. The English left-back finally managed to break into the Whites’ first-team last season when he made five appearances in the English Championship with one league goal to his name.
However, the Leeds prospect has struggled to earn regular first-team opportunities under Marcelo Bielsa this season. He has only featured in three matches so far and is yet to make a start in the Championship this term despite injury crises in the left back position. It speaks poorly of Pearce’s prospects that despite him being available, Stuart Dallas was a makeshift starter in some Championship games.
What Does Pearce Add To Bielsa’s Team?
Pearce is very quick and agile which helps him make some darting runs down the left flank. He is also a very promising defender who has incredible potential to become a future star in English football. However, the English full-back is far from the finished product and is currently not good enough to merit a start under Bielsa at Elland Road.
The 20-year-old still has a long way to go if he wants to establish himself as a regular starter in the Championship so making a switch to the top tier of England might be a move too soon for him in his football career.
Will Pearce’s Departure Be A Huge Blow For The Whites?
There is no doubt that losing someone of Pearce’s potential will be a big blow for the Whites as they look to build towards a bigger and better future at West Yorkshire. However, it won’t hamper their current set-up too much while Bielsa could use the money generated from his sale to strengthen other areas of his squad which could help the club compete for a promotion spot this season.
Hence, we can conclude that it might be a blow for the club’s long-term aspirations but at the same time, it could hand the club a significant boost in the short-term if Bielsa can spend the money wisely.
