According to Football League World, as cited by Yorkshire Post, Leeds United are among clubs monitoring Dael Fry. The Middlesbrough defender has impressed the onlookers with his performances in the Championship and is courted by the likes of Leeds, Wolves and Burnley. Middlesbrough valued Fry at around £25 million last summer, but how much he would cost this time around remains to be seen.
Dael Fry’s Rise To Prominence At Middlesbrough
Dael Fry is a homegrown talent at Middlesbrough having joined the club way back in 2006. It wasn’t until the summer of 2015 until the defender received a call-up to the senior side, though. He had to wait until the first half of the 2017/18 campaign to make his breakthrough for the club, featuring in 12 league matches during the corresponding season.
Since then, Fry has become a vital member of the Middlesbrough backline, notching up 138 competitive appearances for the club. His contributions at the heart of the defence were key in helping Boro attain a top ten finish in the Championship this past season, with the 23-year-old building a formidable defensive partnership alongside former Man United prodigy Paddy McNair.
At the age of 23, Fry has already impressed the onlookers with his leadership qualities. His imposing 1.90m frame also makes him an intimidating presence for attackers while giving him a significant advantage in physical and aerial duels. Not to mention, the centre-back is a threat from indirect set-pieces as well as being capable of providing darting long balls out from the back.
Is Dael Fry A Good Option For Leeds United?
Dael Fry is certainly a gifted defender, who has what it takes to make his presence felt in the Premier League. A potential move to Leeds United, in that regard, could be an ideal leap for the 23-year-old, following an impressive season in the Championship.
However, the Whites already have a lot of options at centre-back, especially having signed both Diego Llorente and Robin Koch last summer. Although Domenico Berardi is leaving the club, Marcelo Bielsa has a stacked central defensive unit, with at least four players fighting for two positions.
An argument can be made over Fry’s quality and how he can potentially be an upgrade over Liam Cooper, but signing a new centre-back certainly should not be a priority for Leeds United at the moment.
The club is running low on depth on other areas of the pitch, including the fullback and the midfield department. Investing close to £25 million on Dael Fry could, therefore, be a risk, especially in the current financial climate that has already crippled Leeds’ powers in the market.
