Leeds United’s defense is deficient in players as Max Wober and Ethan Ampadu are sidelined for extended periods of time.
With the recent news of Ethan Ampadu and Max Wober’s extended layoffs due to significant knee injuries, Leeds United is facing a defensive problem. The latter is expected to be out for approximately six weeks following surgery for a meniscus issue, but
Daniel Farke is left with just two senior center backs who are fit, and although James Debayo is well-liked by his manager, he has never played for the first team. Leeds may need to find ready-to-play replacements, and the YEP has examined five intriguing prospects that are currently unaffiliated with clubs.
Joel Matip
Matip, who was a regular starter for Liverpool just two years ago, has a wealth of elite experience and has won both the Premier League and the Champions League while playing for Anfield. The 33-year-old’s playing time has decreased in recent campaigns due to injury concerns and the addition of Ibrahima Konate, and he was let go earlier this year when his contract expired.
Although Matip hasn’t signed with a new team, Wolves and West Ham United of the Premier League are keeping an eye on him. Given the Cameroonian international’s recent employment at a side that consistently contends for major honors both domestically and in Europe, Leeds should be concerned about his wage demands.
Daniel A. Martey
Amartey’s contract was recently terminated by Besiktas under very peculiar circumstances. The club’s spokesperson recently claimed that the defender had secretly left the club’s offices to avoid being transferred to Turkish rivals Eyupspor, an accusation that he refutes. Amartey allegedly wanted to go, but only to Germany or England.
Amartey, who is currently a free agent, is searching for a new team and shares Matip’s considerable Premier League experience. The 29-year-old, who is capable of playing in midfield or defense, has lately been connected to a move to Celtic.
Benkovic Filip
The Croatian defender Benkovic, who played the 2023–24 season on loan at Turkish team Trabzonspor, was released by Udinese at the end of August. After being released by Leicester in 2022, the 27-year-old signed for Udinese on a free transfer. He played just two games for the team in two years.
In addition to having championship experience from loan stints at Bristol City and Cardiff City, Benkovic, a one-cap Croatian international, is expected to have lower wage demands than Matip and Amartey. In addition, he played a season on loan at Celtic, where he contributed to their 2018–19 triple.
Dummett, Paul
Up until his release earlier this summer, thirty-three-year-old Dummett played his whole career with his boyhood club, Newcastle United, where he amassed an amazing 213 appearances, including a full Championship promotion campaign. However, it has been three years since he got into double figures for appearances in a single season.
After leaving Newcastle, Dummett has been frequently linked to a move to the Championship. More recently, he was suggested to sign with Wolves, who are dealing with a defensive injury crisis. With five caps for Wales, the seasoned defender can play both left and center back with ease.
Kjaer Simon
Danish international Kjaer joined AC Milan on a loan in 2019 and his stay was extended. The defender continued to play regularly all the way up to the 2019–20 season, during which he made 20 appearances in Serie A. The 35-year-old made the decision to leave San Siro in pursuit of a new challenge, although he hasn’t signed with a team yet.
Kjaer was placed 18th for the 2021 Ballon d’Or award and has a wealth of European and international experience, having enjoyed stints at Roma, Sevilla, Wolfsburg, and Lille, among other places. But like Matip, he’ll probably demand a very big salary for a second-tier team.
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