It appears that the deal for Club Brugge defender Laurens De Bock will be done soon, as the player has left training camp in Spain ahead of a medical to complete his move to Leeds United.
Laurens De Bock deal looking good. Leeds hoping he'll undergo a medical in the next 24 hours. #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHayYEP) January 8, 2018
#lufc target Laurens De Bock has left Club Brugge training camp in Spain and is heading to Leedshttps://t.co/s064rYGYFo
— Scouts in Attendance (@scoutsattending) January 8, 2018
We profiled Laurens De Bock a few days ago when news of his potential transfer first hit. He’s a left back that is surplus to requirements at Club Brugge not because of his talent, but because of the formation change at the club. The Belgian club had finished 2nd in the league table last year with De Bock playing at left back, but the formation change to three centre-back has left him without a position.
Will De Bock finally solve the left back problem at Leeds? Leeds have been using players out of position since Charlie Taylor departed in the summer for Burnley, with Gaetano Berardi, who usually plays at right back, receiving the bulk of time at left back for the team this season. The club has also used Stuart Dallas, a right-footed left winger, at left back this season, and Vurnon Anita, whose preferred position is midfield, in the position as well.
Having seen #mufc LB Cameron Borthwick Jackson at #wwfc #lufc over the past 2 seasons you have to wonder how this company rated him above Ousmane Dembele & Marcus Rashford in Feb 2017! https://t.co/76LImul522
— Scouts in Attendance (@scoutsattending) January 8, 2018
Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, who joined the club on loan from Manchester United in August, was supposed to step in and take up the left-back role, but he has failed to make any kind of impact at Leeds. Borthwick-Jackson was highly rated, but in two straight loan moves, to Wolverhampton and Leeds, he’s disappointed. Perhaps he just isn’t that good.
Either way, Leeds looks to be moving on from the CBJ days at the club, as a proper left back appears set to join. Here’s hoping that De Bock can step in and provide some stability at the left back position for the club, and that Gaetano Berardi can provide some relief for the overworked Luke Ayling at right back.