Leeds United were said to be interested in a possible loan move for Wolves left-back Hugo Bueno before the summer window shuts, but he’s heading to Feyenoord.
Leeds’ squad strength is currently enough to muscle it with the best of the Championship, but could require more to be totally considered strong enough to cement a place in the automatic promotion slots.
Full-back depth is a particular concern, as Leeds boast just three natural full-backs to start the season with only one of them left-footed
Leeds interested in signing Hugo Bueno from Wolves on loan
Several outlets, including The Athletic, relayed news that Leeds are admirers of Wolves’ young left-back Hugo Bueno.
However, as much as Daniel Farke and Leeds would appreciate the signing of Bueno to add competition to Junior Firpo’s left-back berth, the lack of guarantee for minutes from Leeds, plus Feyenoord pulling the trigger on their interest, means he won’t be coming to Elland Road – per Liam Keen.
With that in mind, we look at two alternatives that Leeds could explore if Bueno is not an attainable signing…
Owen Beck – Liverpool
Farke probably wouldn’t object to any more Welshman in the Leeds squad, having loved the atmosphere created by his Cymru contingent last season.
Not only that, but whoever comes in is going to have to be a development sort of signing that would be content with not being the first choice initially.
Liverpool’s Owen Beck would therefore make a lot of sense fresh from a loan stint in Scotland with Dundee FC, notching two goals and four assists from left-back in the Scottish Premiership.
Contracted until 2026, a loan-to-buy for the 21-year-old could be a worthwhile option for Leeds and Beck to see the defender gain valuable experience while looking for a better opportunity as Anfield starts look off-limits while Andy Robertson is still present.
Thierry Small – Charlton Athletic
Another with Premier League potential, Thierry Small looked a great addition to Charlton Athletic in League One last season when he joined from Southampton at the age of 19 (now 20).
A very athletic presence with the confidence going forward, Small was a previous target for Leeds when he was leaving Everton, despite being tipped for big things on Merseyside.
Now, with more EFL experience under his belt and momentum on his side, signing him as an understudy to Firpo with the view of him potentially stepping up into a starting role could work.
At present, he’s contracted until the summer of 2025, so has a year left on his deal and could be gettable from a third-tier outfit like the Addicks.
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