Leeds have lost one defender today, with Adam Smith returning to Tottenham Hotspur, but could already have another lined up in the shape of Leicester City’s Matt Mills. And that’s not all, as Neil Warnock could bring a couple more new faces to the club by the end of the week.

After three appearances for the mighty whites, Adam Smith has been recalled from his loan spell to provide Spurs with cover at right-back. This comes after Tottenham’s first choice Kyle Walker suffered an ankle injury in yesterday’s 5-2 defeat by Arsenal, and given their rubbish defensive display in that game he might be hopeful of getting into their first team some time soon.

But we might already have his replacement lined up, as Sky Sports are reporting that Leeds are negotiating with Leicester for a possible loan for their defender Matt Mills. My first reaction was why we want to sign a player who can’t get into a team who are below us in the table, but apparently he’s been left out of their side after a bust-up with Foxes boss Nigel Pearson.

Mills was left out of the Leicester squad for last week's win over Derby and has been told he does not figure in Pearson's long-term plans. Sky are saying that a number of clubs are keen to take the 25-year-old on loan for the rest of the season, but talks between Leeds and Leicester are ‘at an advanced stage’, and it’s now up to Mills himself to decide whether to go out on loan.

As Leeds have conceded 48 goals in 33 games this season it’s no surprise that Warnock sees his first priority as tightening the defence, and he believes that Mills is the type of strong character that we need. The manager told the Yorkshire Post that other new faces may also be coming “There are quite a few we are looking at. We are trying to bring two or three in before the weekend if we can.”

With the wage bill reduced as Townsend, Delph and now Smith have ended their loan spells for different reasons, there is a bit of cash left in the budget for the loan singings Warnock is aiming for, so let’s hope he can get the players he needs for that all-important push for the play-offs.

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