Leeds have completed the loan signing of Izzy Brown from Chelsea, but there is also a report that we might get another central defender after all.
21-year-old has Brown has been capped at various youth levels by England and he is joining us on a season-long loan deal. Brown started his career with West Bromwich Albion before moving to Chelsea, but he’s yet to establish himself at the London giants. Instead he’s spent most of his time out on loan.
His varied spells have taken in Vitesse Arnhem, Rotherham United, and Huddersfield Town, where he was once seen squaring up to Pontus in the fracas that followed the touchline spat between Garry Monk and his opposite number David Wagner. Last season was spent at Brighton, where he managed 14 appearances in all competitions as the seagulls enjoyed their first season back in the top flight.
But that came to an end when he picked up a knee injury in January, and he will now complete his rehabilitation at Leeds. You may wonder what the point is of signing another player who is already injured, (shades of Tyler Roberts) so let’s just assume it’s because we had to sign him now to beat the deadline and he isn’t too far away from getting back into action.
Brown spoke to LUTV in attempt to break the world record for using the word ‘amazing’ the most times in one interview. "It feels amazing to be part of such a huge club. My first ever game I watched live was at Elland Road, Chelsea versus Leeds when I was younger and ever since then I’ve remembered the atmosphere. The fans always back the team 110 per cent and they give the team an extra boost on the pitch, they are a huge part of this club and it is an amazing club.”
"The decision was easy, I’ve known of Leeds’ interest for around 18 months now and ever since then it has been in the back of my mind. It is a huge club with a huge fan base, it has an amazing stadium, an amazing training ground and it is a Premier League club in a way and hopefully that is what we can become. I’ve watched every Leeds game on Sky, they have been amazing and you can see the way the manager has got them playing, that is the kind of football I want to play.”
Brown is an attacking midfielder, and you might be forgiven we’ve got enough players in that area of the squad already, though he has been spoken of as cover for Samu Saiz. Most of us think that we’re more in need of alternatives in central defence, but up until now Bielsa has claimed he is happy with the options he has at the back.
However, the Daily Mirror think that bucket man might have had a late change of heart, as their ‘live transfer blog’ has suggested that we’re battling Sheffield Wednesday to sign Danny Batth from Wolves before tomorrow night’s deadline. Batth made 15 starts in their Championship winning side last season, but is now likely to be surplus to requirements at Molineux now the nouveau riche midlanders have signed Leander Dendoncker from Anderlecht.
But some Wolves fans have suggested on twitter that they don’t rate him that highly with comments like "Batth might be a loyal servant and a vocal presence but maybe he isn’t the solid centre-back Leeds fans think they’re getting.” So if there is any truth in the story we’re likely to get him, we’ll just have to hope that he can at least be a stop-gap for Cooper and Jansson. Or that the Wendies get him instead.
It’s no surprise that one player likely to be making a move out of Elland Road by the end of the week is Vurnon Anita. The news outlet NOS have reported he is on his way back to Holland to Willem II, as he isn’t going to form part of Bielsa’s plans. Which is probably the best move for all concerned, but it’s a shame that Anita was never given a chance to impress at Leeds in his best position of central midfield.