DONE DEAL: Leeds United land 34-year-old perfect candidate Josuha Guilavogui as club finalises free transfer deal.
DONE DEAL: Leeds United land 34-year-old perfect candidate Josuha Guilavogui as club finalises free transfer deal.
Leeds United are on the lookout for a free agent defensive midfielder and it seems Josuha Guilavogui is being zeroed in on at Elland Road.
Leeds United are dealing with a shortage of both defensive midfielders and centre-backs, but the midfield issues are the most pressing at this stage.
With no youngsters seemingly ready to step up just yet, there’s only Ao Tanaka and Joe Rothwell available. Both have impressed in the absences of Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev, but cover and competition is a must, and the free transfer market is the best way to address their shortage while outside the transfer window.
Plenty of free agents have been linked with moves to Elland Road in recent weeks as a result. However, one rumour that looks to be gathering steam is regarding Josuha Guilavogui.
The perfect option?
Leeds United might have been linked with the likes of Christoph Kramer and Francis Coquelin, but reports say that it’s Guilavogui who has emerged as Daniel Farke’s preferred free transfer option.
It’s clear to see why too.
Farke suggested that ideally, a defensive midfielder who can cover in centre-back can be signed. Guilavogui offers just that having played 42 times at the heart of defence over the course of his career.
He’s played a good amount as a box-to-box midfielder too, though the seven-time France International has played much of his football in the defensive midfield role that Leeds United desperately need cover in.
Guilavogui has played at the very top of the game with a vast amount of experience to his name in elite leagues like the Bundesliga, Ligue 1 and La Liga.
That will be of huge value to Farke’s squad, even if he only takes up a covering role once Ampadu and Gruev are back.
When will a deal be done?
Speaking on the matter ahead of the midweek clash against Watford, Leeds United boss Farke confirmed a decision will have been made by the end of the next week.
A call could be made pretty quickly though, and with Guilavogui reports advancing, it might not be long before the free agent question finally has a definitive answer.
There’s good options out there for the Whites but given what Farke wants, Guilavogui could be the pick of the bunch.
Time will tell whether a deal is struck though with plenty of speculation over a new incoming over the past couple of weeks. Fans will be relieved when the saga reaches an end, hopefully concluding with a new face on the Leeds United books.
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