Leeds United could be looking to bolster their backline this January transfer window to have the depth needed to secure an automatic promotion to the Premier League.
The Whites have Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk as the starters but the depth behind them is thin following the injury of Maximilian Wöber and Ethan Ampadu, who can play in the backline if needed.
As a result, these injuries show Leeds that need to have enough depth for the second half of the grueling Championship season is needed. While their starters are healthy now, there’s no guarantee that this will be the case for the entire season.
Leeds eye late bloomer to bolster center-back depth
The Mirror reports that Leeds, Everton, and Fulham are among several English clubs monitoring Steaua Bucharest center-back Joyskim Dawa. The 28-year-old, who is gaining recognition as a late bloomer, has impressed in the Europa League this season, helping Steaua win both of their opening matches.
Although Dawa has spent most of his career in Ukraine, Latvia, and Romania, he has earned nine caps for Cameroon and is keen to make the move to the Premier League.
Scouts from clubs across England and Europe are said to have watched Dawa deliver a man-of-the-match performance in Steaua’s hard-fought 1-0 win over PAOK before the international break. The report also mentions that Leicester City and Burnley have shown interest in the player.
Dawa’s representatives believe he’s ready to play at the highest level, and importantly, he could be available for a reasonable price, with a release clause of around £4 million in his contract. Discussions ahead of the January transfer window have suggested that Dawa could be an ideal option to compete with the first-choice center-backs.
Representatives traveled to London to meet with the Fulham board, but they couldn’t reach an agreement, leading him to eventually join Belgian side Gent. It’s understood that Fulham held talks with Dawa’s agents as recently as last week.
It will be interesting to see whether Leeds win this race in this crowded group of clubs vying for a player crucial for their depth for the second half of the 2024-25 season.
