Leeds United are interested in signing Middlesbrough centre-back Daniel Ayala when the next transfer window opens, that is according to a report from the Daily Star.
It is suggested that the Whites would be keen to sign the defender whether they are promoted to the Premier League or not. Of course, they are currently in pole position to reach the top flight as they sit first in the Championship table, seven points ahead of third-placed Fulham (BBC Sport). Indeed, they will likely need a new centre-half next year, with key player Ben White’s loan spell from Brighton set to come to an end.
The Spaniard’s contract at the Riverside Stadium is set to expire in the summer (Transfermarkt) and the report believes that he will leave the north-east club, even if they manage to avoid relegation to League One.
Ayala initially joined Middlesbrough on loan in 2013 from Norwich City before making the move permanent in 2014 for a fee of £378,000 (via Transfermarkt).
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He has gone on to play 216 times for the club in all competitions, scoring an impressive 23 goals (Transfermarkt). Added to that, this season alone he has averaged 5.9 clearances and 5.7 duels won per game, whilst also helping the side keep seven league clean sheets (SofaScore).
Despite the 29-year-old being an extremely experienced defender, it seems that many Leeds fans would not be keen on bringing him to Elland Road. Here is what some had to say about the transfer link on Twitter…
Ayala is step backwards for me!
— Joe Kelly (@joekelly7731) April 1, 2020
Ayala is a April fools surely. He’s hated by all at Leeds 😂
— Adam Dennis (@adamden69827965) April 1, 2020
Not Ayala please….cant stand the guy
— Richard LUFC 💙💛 (@Lovemachine1985) April 1, 2020
Meslier yes but not Ayala. We can do much better & if we go up I like the sound of Koch who we have been linked with
— Mip (@mipsical) April 1, 2020
Ayala…. pic.twitter.com/QevZ142AHo
— Zoe Cooper (@zoecooper94) April 1, 2020
Seriously though … I hope you’re wrong, not good enough for the Premier League (eek, bit of fate tempting there)
— Mark Kitching (@markdkitch) April 2, 2020
Why Ayala? He’s not a ball-playing centre back like Coops or Ben White. He’s more old school stopper. I don’t see him “slotting” into a Bielsa back four.
— EdmondDantes (@LeComtedeMonteC) April 1, 2020
I can’t stand Ayala, even more than Grealish!!!
— Chris Walton (@chris_walton21) April 1, 2020
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