Leeds United are reportedly eyeing a move for former Barcelona starlet Sergio Gomez to compete with left-back Junior Firpo.
According to TEAMtalk, Premier League side Leeds United are closely monitoring Anderlecht star Sergio Gomez who continues to make a name for himself in the Belgian top-flight.
The 21-year-old came through the ranks at Barcelona and had stints at SD Huesca (loan) and Borussia Dortmund before moving to Anderlecht in 2021. He has since made 41 appearances for the Belgian giants, scoring six goals and assisting 14 more in that time.
Gomez’s numbers are extremely impressive, given that he often plays as a left-back. The youngster is also versatile enough to play anywhere along the left flank while also doing a job in several other positions. This will certainly give him an edge if he moves to Elland Road.
The Whites signed Junior Firpo last summer, but the former Barcelona ace has so far struggled to impress for the Yorkshire outfit. COVID-19 and injuries have played their part, but Firpo has been underwhelming more often than not. His ability to regularly clock bookings has not helped matters either. Firpo also suffered a medial knee ligament injury and is now set to face a few weeks on the sidelines.
With Jesse Marsch now in charge, a new left-back appears to be on the agenda. While Leeds remain interested in Gomez, they will need to beat off interest from several other European sides. Real Madrid, Chelsea, Olympique Lyonnais, Atalanta and Ajax are all in the fray.
The role of a full-back has evolved in recent years with the likes of Liverpool and Bayern Munich making it a glamorous position critical at both ends of the pitch. The likes of Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold have set the benchmark, and players of a similar skill set are worth their weight in gold.
Players who are not just solid defensively but can attack are highly touted after, and in Gomez, Leeds could land a player who has shown all the signs of developing into a formidable force.
His potential arrival at Elland Road is unlikely to be the end of Firpo. The 25-year-old appears set to stay put and hope for better fortunes in his second season in England. With Stuart Dallas and possibly Gomez to offer competition, Leeds could benefit in the long run.
