As reported by Yorkshire Evening Post, Bryce Hosannah could have had the opportunity to leave Leeds United in the January transfer window. Roger Hosannah, the father of Bryce, has confirmed in an interview with YEP that his son very nearly left the club earlier this year. However, any move away from Leeds was blocked by the director of football Victor Orta and youth boss Carlos Corberan.
Hosannah’s story at Leeds United
Hosannah used to play for the Crystal Palace U17 side, even though Chelsea also courted him. Nevertheless, he moved to Leeds United in the summer of 2017 although he was almost on the verge of moving to FC Twente. His move to Leeds was owed to Orta.
Hosannah impressed the onlookers at Leeds, as they eventually offered the right-back a two-year contract extension in 2018. It was mainly due to the youngster’s excellent performances during his first season at the club, which also rewarded him with a place in the club’s pre-season tour to Australia.
Although he is yet to feature in a single competitive game for the Whites, Hosannah is definitely one of the most highly-rated youngsters in the squad. However, with his current contract expiring at the end of the campaign, the defender’s future at Leeds United still hangs in the balance.
Can Hosannah make it into the first-team?
One of Hosannah’s biggest assets is his versatility. The 20-year-old can feature on both flanks, even though he is most effective when deployed as a right-back. That being said, he is still going to face difficulties in his bid to make a breakthrough in the Leeds United first-team next season. Marcelo Bielsa already has Luke Ayling as his first-choice right-back. The 28-year-old has had an excellent campaign, helping his club attain the best defensive record in the Championship so far.
Same applies for left-back Stuart Dallas. While Ayling was the only option at RB at times, Bielsa had two more options on the opposite flank in Barry Douglas and Leif Davis.
Why Leeds United must keep hold of Hosannah
Leeds United have fared well defensively this season. However, their entire defensive unit could be ripped apart in the summer, with Ben White set to return to Brighton & Hove Albion and Gaetano Berardi’s contract expiring at the end of the season.
The potential extension of Hosannah’s contract, in that regard, could help Bielsa from preventing a mass exodus in the defensive unit. But more importantly, the youngster has the quality to emerge as a first-choice player for the Whites in the future, and given the lack of options at right-back, his presence in the team could be crucial.
