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Leeds looking to sign Barnsley fullback Andy Yiadom

Defender has played for Paul Heckingbottom at the South Yorkshire club and is available on a free transfer

Burton Albion v Barnsley - Sky Bet Championship Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images

According to the Director of Football model, Victor Orta is in charge of all of the player acquisitions and makes the personnel decisions at Leeds United while Paul Heckingbottom, as head coach, is responsible for the putting together tactics and a general plan on how to defeat the opponents, week-in and week-out. But does the latest rumour indicate some change in that model?

Leeds have been linked with current Barnsley defender Andy Yiadom, who is available on a free transfer at the end of the season.

Yiadom’s contract is up at the end of the season, and the former Ghanaian international fullback is rumoured to want to link up with former Barnsley FC manager Heckingbottom once again at Leeds.

The 26 year-old right back garnered interest from Premier League clubs last summer, with Yiadom even having a medical at Huddersfield Town, before the deal collapsed and Swansea City couldn’t get a deal done before the summer transfer window closed.

The defender has registered three assists this season in 25 appearances. Last season, he appeared 32 times, once again registering 3 assists. While appearing with League Two Barnsley in 2015-16, Yiadom bagged six goals to go with five assists, earning himself a transfer to promoted Barnsley.

Leeds will be looking for new recruits going into next year, as the spectacular collapse this season has seen the club go from being promotion candidates back in September to being the worst team in the league since Boxing Day. And while Leeds have been unlucky with red cards, suspensions, and injuries, the point remains that the squad is much too thin to be considered candidates for promotion next season.

Yiadom is primarily a right back, but he’s played at both left back and at right midfield in his career. Luke Ayling is currently the starting right back at Leeds, even though he’s currently injured. However, bringing in a player such as Yiadom gives the club some flexibility in terms of formation.