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Leeds Live

Sport

George Smith

Leeds United still need to strengthen four more key areas following Rodrigo transfer

Leeds United are now just over a fortnight away from sampling the taste of Premier League football once again.

After ending their 16-year absence from the top-flight of English football last month, Leeds will face reigning Premier League champions Liverpool at Anfield on the opening day of the 2020/21 season to mark their return to the big-time.

After a slow start to the summer transfer window, Leeds are now starting to pick up the pace, with, at the time of writing, the club on the verge of adding Valencia striker Rodrigo to their ranks for a club-record fee of around £30m.

The Spain international's arrival in West Yorkshire acts as a massive statement of intent, with the 29-year-old, who has graced the Premier League with his presence before, back in 2010 whilst on loan at Bolton Wanderers, being linked with a move to Barcelona only as recently as January.

Whilst getting a deal concluded for Rodrigo will ease the pressure on Marcelo Bielsa's attacking options, a number of areas still need strengthening ahead of the big kick-off.

The area in need of most attention is, of course, centre-back. Following Ben White's return to Brighton & Hove Albion after the conclusion of his season-long loan stint at Elland Road last term, Leeds have been left light on options at the back, a scenario that has been made all the worse by Gaetano Berardi's long-term injury.

As things stand, the Whites only have three fit central-defenders on their books in the shape of club captain Liam Cooper and youngsters Pascal Struijk and Oliver Casey.

Cooper is a certain starter for Bielsa's side this season but he desperately needs a new partner and a fresh option to offer them competition as a back-up. Both Struijk and Casey have potential about themselves but Bielsa may not consider them first-team ready at Premier League level yet.

As well as centre-back being in desperate need of reinforcements, you could argue that Leeds need to strengthen their right-back and central-defensive midfield options as well.

Though the Whites have signed Fulham right-back Cody Drameh already this summer, he is unlikely to be thrown into the first-team squad just yet, with him poised to continue his development at Under-23 level. Should Luke Ayling pick up an injury, which is a possibility in a 38-game Premier League season, Bielsa could be left short.

Robbie Gotts can operate at right-back if required but all the pointers suggest that he is heading out on loan.

Leeds, too, look light on options in the central-defensive midfield role. Kalvin Phillips, who received his maiden England call-up on Tuesday, will, of course, be the first name on the teamsheet as far as that position is concerned, but if he finds himself injured or suspended Leeds will suddenly look light.

Ouasim Bouy and Conor Shaughnessy are defensive midfielders but it is unlikely they would get into Bielsa's squad this season.

Whilst Leeds are fairly well-stocked as far as the right-wing role is concerned, with Helder Costa, Ian Poveda and young Jordan Stevens capable of playing there, the opposite flank looks light on numbers.

Jack Harrison, at present, is poised to be the main candidate to fill that void, but he could face competition from both Stuart Dallas and Ezgjan Alioksi, but the chances are that those two will continue to battle it out for the left-back role.

With that in mind, adding a new left-midfielder to the ranks could be necessary.

With all of that in mind, LeedsLive has put together a hypothetical depth chart of the strength of Leeds' squad should they get a deal over the line for Rodrigo.