Among the many many points surrounding Leeds United final season was the dearth of a dependable possibility at right-back, with neither Luke Ayling nor Rasmus Kristensen having wholly satisfied amid the membership’s tumble towards relegation.
Within the case of Kristensen, the previous Crimson Bull Salzburg man – who arrived on a £10m deal final summer season – merely “did not make the step up from the Austrian Bundesliga to the Premier League”, within the phrases of writer Zach Lowy, having since moved on mortgage to Roma.
As for Ayling, the long-serving Englishman was one thing of a legal responsibility in possession as he recorded a mean pass accuracy rate of just 69% and stored simply two clear sheets from his 29 top-flight appearances.
These woes have continued into the present marketing campaign because the 32-year-old has “critically struggled” in a defensive sense beneath Daniel Farke, as per fan pundit Kris Smith, thus heightening the necessity to discover a appropriate successor earlier than too lengthy.
Who might substitute Luke Ayling at Leeds?
The versatile nature of the likes of Sam Byram and Jamie Shackleton might make sure that the pair may function at right-back if required, whereas the Yorkshire facet solely not too long ago snapped up Djed Spence on a season-long loan deal from Tottenham Hotspur.
The 23-year-old – who beforehand helped Nottingham Forest to promotion again in 2021/22 – was hailed because the “actual deal” by pundit Trevor Sinclair after becoming a member of Spurs final summer season, albeit made just six appearances for his father or mother membership previous to arriving at Elland Street.
Frustratingly for all involved, the attack-minded full-back’s lack of sport time has continued thus far this time period as he has been restricted to only nine minutes of action because of damage, thus proving considerably unreliable in his quick time on the membership thus far.
With the one-time Middlesbrough man additionally solely at Leeds on a brief foundation, the Championship facet may have to contemplate discovering a extra long-term successor to Ayling transferring ahead, reminiscent of academy star, Kris Moore.
Who’s Kris Moore?
The 19-year-old could also be a centre-back by commerce, though he has flourished in a right-back berth within the U21 set-up thus far this season, having scored once and provided one assist in 5 appearances at Premier League 2 degree.
These aim contributions each got here with the promising teenager captaining the facet within the latest 3-2 defeat to Studying, taking his complete tally at that age group to three goals and four assists in 55 outings throughout all fronts.
Whereas not a very menacing attacking risk, it’s defensively the place the teen seems to flourish, having been hailed as “stable” by Yorkshire Evening Post’s Joe Donnohue amid his performances final time period.
Previous to that, Moore had additionally been dubbed “excellent” by journalist Josh Ramsbottom for his defensive prowess in addition to his knack for “progressing the ball”, thus indicating the impression he could make each out and in of possession when working within the backline.
Such expertise for the rising gem – who was named on the bench for the Carabao Cup conflict with Shrewsbury City final month – was additionally evident within the EFL Trophy final season, having won 75% of his aerial duels in addition to 62% of his complete duels, whereas having fun with a stable 82% go accuracy charge from his three outings within the competitors.
Now with a new contract under his belt, it’s truthful to say that the longer term seems vibrant for the Leeds academy sensation at current, with the following step now for him to drive his means into Farke’s first-team plans – hopefully, at Ayling’s expense.
