Why Leeds United should sign Kyle Walker-Peters on loan in January
Leeds United’s clash with Nottingham Forest last month saw Luke Ayling taken off with a knee injury. Later, it was revealed that Ayling would miss two months of action with a knee injury and this should tempt manager Marcelo Bielsa to take a dip in the winter transfer window.
Leeds are lacking depth in the defence and full-back is one area where Bielsa should definitely invest in when the transfer window reopens. It’s not like Bielsa doesn’t have options at all; the likes of Jamie Shackleton, Gaetano Berardi and Stuart Dallas can play at full-back but with the Argentine manager’s options being limited in central defence, it will be a massive gamble to rely on the trio.
With that in mind, Leeds United must make a move for Tottenham Hotspur full-back Kyle Walker-Peters in January. Kyle Walker-Peters is one of the highly rated young talents and has always impressed whenever he has been called upon by manager Mauricio Pochettino.
However, the 21-year-old is still waiting for regular first-team opportunities, having made his senior bow last season with a standout display against Newcastle United.
Last season, injuries to other players presented Kyle Walker-Peters with a Premier League debut at Newcastle on the opening day and he bagged the man of the match of the award. The return of first-team stars from injury later meant that he did not start again in the league until the final day of the season against Leicester City.
Like last summer, the youngster impressed in the pre-season but currently finds himself as the third choice right-back under Pochettino behind Kieran Trippier and Serge Aurier. Walker-Peters has made just one start this season, which came in the Carabao Cup victory over West Ham last month.
Equally adept at both right-back and left-back, the 21-year-old is yet to be been given an extended run in the Tottenham team by Pochettino.
Given that Walker-Peters is finding opportunities tough to come by, Pochettino should loan him out in January. Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa should use his relationship with Mauricio Pochettino and bring Walker-Peters on loan in January. The 21-year-old will get regular opportunities at Elland Road due to Ayling’s injury.
At 21, Walker-Peters needs to play regularly if he is to unlock his true potential and that could only be possible if he leaves Spurs temporarily. Should he move to Leeds, the youngster would get an opportunity to learn from one of the best tacticians in world football which could certainly nurture his development.
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Hence, Leeds must make an audacious loan bid for Walker-Peters in the January transfer window.