Leeds United are working on potential left-back signings in total secrecy, Graham Smyth of The Yorkshire Evening Post writes.

The lowdown

With a week to go until the competitive action begins, Leeds do look a little short in the left-back position.

Junior Firpo would likely occupy that role if he was fit, but he picked up an injury against Blackpool earlier in pre-season that could sideline him until mid-September.

Stuart Dallas is capable of playing there too, but he's also on the sidelines with no prospect of a return in the near future.

After Leeds sold 22-year-old Leif Davis to League One outfit Ipswich Town, Marsch faces the possibility of using centre-half Pascal Struijk or winger Jack Harrison as a makeshift full-back.

The latest

Smyth, the publication's chief football writer, says Leeds are hopeful of signing a new LB before they kick-off their Premier League campaign against Wolves on Saturday 6 August.

However, they are currently 'tight-lipped on the identity of targets' and 'whatever deals are being worked on are yet to leak out'.

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The verdict

TuttoMercatoWeb (via Sport Witness) report that Leeds are 'thinking' about a deal for PSV Eindhoven's Philipp Max, but in light of Smyth's piece, that information seemingly hasn't come from Elland Road.

And regardless, TMW cautioned that it would take a 'crazy' offer to land the 28-year-old German, and that may well discourage Leeds.

Perhaps that's part of the problem they face as they operate under time pressure, with the new season so close and clubs likely reluctant to lose key assets.

Smyth writes that Leeds were always going to need a new LB this summer to provide cover and competition for Firpo, and so you could argue this should have been addressed weeks ago.