Leeds United keen on signing Alfonso Pedraza

Leeds United are reportedly interested in securing the services of 26-year-old Spanish full-back Alfonso Pedraza.

According to La Razon, Premier League side Leeds United are keen on securing the signature of Villarreal’s Alfonso Pedraza in the January transfer window.

The 26-year-old came through the ranks at the Estadio de La Ceramica, making his first-team bow in the 2014/15 season for the Yellow Submarine. He has since made 147 appearances for the Spanish club across all competitions, scoring 11 goals and assisting 18 more.

Capable of playing anywhere along the left flank, Pedraza can fulfil several roles for Jesse Marsch and co. at either end of the pitch. A good dribbler with an eye for a pass, the 26-year-old is a tad more capable going forward. It will add impetus to a Leeds attack that has struggled to find the back of the net consistently this season.

The long-term injury sustained by Junior Firpo has forced Marsch to utilise Pascal Struijk as a makeshift left-back. Given that Leeds are within touching distance of the relegation zone, they cannot afford to leave the weaknesses unaddressed. Leeds have also shown interest in other left-backs like Kai Wagner.

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Inter Milan were heavily linked with Pedraza. But the Serie A giants have cooled their interest in the player of late. This leaves the door open for Leeds to make their move. It will be a homecoming of sorts for the player, who spent the latter half of the 2017/18 campaign on loan at Elland Road.

Villarreal are not averse to selling the 26-year-old but will only do so should they receive an offer they like. The onus is now on Leeds to make their move. Just how it pans out remains to be seen. While signing Pedraza will boost the Leeds left wing, some questions need to be raised about him being deployed at left-back.  Notably, all of his 14 performances while on loan at Leeds came on the wing. 

The 26-year-old is defensively not the most astute and has the propensity to get caught out at times. A poor tackler, the Spaniard gives away fouls cheaply, and that could prove detrimental for Leeds. Every point matters in a relegation dogfight, and March could do with someone reliable in his rearguard.