Leeds United have made early contact with PEC Zwolle defender Anselmo Garcia in a bid to bring the 21-year-old to Elland Road this summer, according to a report by Football Insider.
Daniel Farke has already had a busy summer as his side undergoes somewhat of a rebuild. The transfer window began with fears that most of the star assets within the squad would need to be sold to comply with Profit and Sustainability Rules. Although the situation was not as bad as many fans feared, outgoings have not been uncommon over the past month.
Archie Gray, who left for Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League, is undoubtedly the most notable of movers so far, but he is not alone, with five other stars having left on permanent deals since the window opened in June.
The flurry of outgoings does not seem to be stopping there however, with Wilfried Gnonto and Junior Firpo the next duo rumoured to be out the door. Although replacements will be needed across the field, the loss of the latter could worry some supporters of the Yorkshire outfit, as there would now be a lack of options in that area of the pitch.
Therefore, the hierarchy seems to have identified the ideal replacement for the Dominican Republic international.
Having started out in the Real Betis and Wolfsburg youth setups, 21-year-old Garcia made his professional debut when he joined then-Dutch second-division side NAC Breda in 2022. After spending a season at the Rat Verlegh Stadion, the left-sided defender joined top-flight club PEC Zwolle.
In a breakout campaign, the Irish youth international made over 30 appearances, contributing to four goals. However, it is his defensive solidity that has impressed Farke and his staff, as they look to go one step further than they did last time out.
Writer’s View
Leeds are certainly in the midst of a transitional window as they look to shift a number of their Premier League signings off the books and replace them with fresh, younger talent to take them back up into the top-flight.
This deal could be another step towards that. After impressing in the Eredivisie last season, it is no wonder English clubs are eyeing a move for the youngster. With the new project at Elland Road, this would be a smart deal for club and player alike.
