---
title: "Leeds: Dean Jones says Whites want new centre-back"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-dean-jones-says-whites-want-new-centre-back/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Exclusive"
published: "2022-07-26T20:20:16Z"
modified: "2022-07-26T20:20:16Z"
---

# Leeds: Dean Jones says Whites want new centre-back

**[Leeds United](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-news/) want to sign a new centre-back this summer, according to transfer insider [Dean Jones](https://twitter.com/DeanJonesSoccer?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor).**

### The Lowdown: Busy few months

Andrea Radrizzani and Victor Orta have been hard at work after avoiding relegation on the final day against Brentford in May. A number of incomings and two big-money departures have seen the club spend and receive around [£95m](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/leeds-united/transfers/verein/399), and it looks as if more is still to come.

A new forward appears to be top of the do list at Elland Road, with Club Brugge’s [Charles De Ketelaere](https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1645414/leeds-ac-milan-charles-de-ketelaere-transfer-gossip) the key target. However, as well as a marquee attacker, defensive reinforcements are also on the agenda.

### The Latest: Jones’ comments

Talking to *The Transfer Tavern*, Jones said that along with a forward and a left-back Leeds now want a centre-back as well.

> “Yeah, I think that forward is really the missing piece for Leeds right now. It’s important to point out that they still want a left-back and they also want a centre-back, which, you know, is easy to forget.”

\[freshpress-poll id=”402181″\]

### The Verdict: Needed?

A left-back is required with Junior Firpo sidelined for [eight weeks](https://theathletic.com/news/junior-firpo-injury-leeds/9bwjVKD0LPqZ/) and Leif Davis’ recent permanent [departure](https://www.leedsunited.com/news/team-news/30134/leif-davis-joins-ipswich-town), while competition for Patrick Bamford and Joe Gelhardt is also necessary.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”398317″\]

However, a new centre-back may not be as important, with Jesse Marsch currently having [four](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/leeds-united/kader/verein/399) senior options to choose from. Liam Cooper’s [injury concerns](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/leeds-united-captain-liam-coopers-injury-update-ahead-of-aston-villa-clash-in-brisbane-3769073) during pre-season could have alerted Leeds chiefs over bringing in a fifth centre-back mind, so this could be one to keep an eye on in the final five weeks of the window.