According to Football Italia, Leeds United were interested in the services of Omar Colley, who has recently agreed to extend his contract with Sampdoria till 2025. The defender was facing an uncertain future in Italy, with Leeds and Sheffield United among the clubs monitoring his situation. But, it appears that he is willing to commit his future at Sampdoria for the coming years.
Do Leeds United Need A New Defender?
Leeds United had reinforced their defensive unit quite well in the summer with the arrival of Robin Koch and Diego Llorente. Although they missed out on Ben White, these two individuals were international stars, who had performed really well at their previous clubs.
Unfortunately for Marcelo Bielsa, both the defenders have struggled with injuries this season, with Llorente, in particular, making just one competitive appearance for the club so far. As for Koch, he has had a rocky start to his career at Elland Road, failing to quickly establish himself in the Premier League before getting injured.
In addition, Liam Cooper has looked out of touch at the highest level of football, leaving Leeds United far too overreliant on the services of Luke Ayling. The right-back has done exceptionally well in central defence but needs a more reliable alternative.
And while one may argue that Llorente could soon return to full fitness, the Whites are definitely in need of at least one more centre-back in order to play Ayling out of position. That is where Colley might have come into the fray.
Was Omar Colley An Ideal Fit?
Colley is a well-travelled footballer, who initially began his footballing career in his native Gambia. He played in Finland, Denmark and Belgium before moving to Sampdoria in 2018. He has since featured in 67 competitive appearances for the Serie A outfit, becoming a mainstay in central defence alongside the likes of Lorenzo Tonelli.
Boasting a tall 1.91m frame, Colley is a no-nonsense defender who likes to clear the ball at every opportunity. His imposing frame gives him an advantage in aerial and physical duels, making him an intimidating figure for the opposing attackers. It also makes him a tailor-made fit for the physically astute nature of the Premier League.
At Leeds United, Colley could have been an ideal alternative for someone like Cooper, whose credibility is still a doubt at the highest level of football. However, with the defender pledging his future at Sampdoria, the Whites should ideally shift their attention towards a midfielder, who can provide the immediate cover for Kalvin Phillips in the number six role, during the second half of the campaign.
