Leeds United have to find reliable cover for Gabriel Gudmundsson this summer in the left-back position.
United’s inspired signings of Gabriel Gudmundsson and James Justin for a combined £20million last summer were superb business. The two covered the left-back position remarkably well, with the latter doing that and more as Daniel Farke’s Swiss army knife deputy.
However, we ought to sign natural left-sided cover for Gudmundsson. Free agent Matt Target was claimed to be of interest at Elland Road, but he’s heading elsewhere in Yorkshire with newly-promoted Hull City.
It leaves United having to consider alternative options to bulk up the squad behind our starting lineup.
Here, I look at three other left-backs that Leeds ought to consider after ‘missing out’ on Targett…
Dennis Cirkin – Free agent
If we were in the market for Targett specifically because he’s a free agent, former Sunderland man Dennis Cirkin should be on the radar too.
He was limited in his minutes last season due to Reinildo being relied on more, plus Cirkin’s injury issues. But, the left-back was solid when he played.
Knowing we need someone that’s naturally left-footed and can get up and down the wing like Gudmundsson, Cirkin might be a viable target.
At only 24, there’s room for Cirkin to develop into a solid Premier League option too with more regular playing time.
Jacques Ekomie – Angers
The key strength of Gudmundsson’s that we need to replicate with a backup signing is his immense carrying.
A league that consistently produces players capable of coping with the Premier League’s intensity is the French Ligue 1, hence Gudmundsson hitting the ground running.
So, Angers’ Jacques Ekomie could be a worthwhile shout as backup.
Reportedly expected to move this summer, Ekomie could potentially only cost a maximum of £8.5million to sign too.
Like Gudmundsson, Ekomie is a physically powerful full-back that carries the ball effectively and looks relatively strong in duels too.
At 22, he wouldn’t come to the Premier League and be a starter right away. That would be ideal for Leeds and Ekomie, though, who could develop as the Swede’s understudy.
Arsene Kouassi – Lorient
Like Ekomie, another youthful Ligue 1 option could be Lorient’s left-back Arsene Kouassi.
🇫🇷 EXCL – Le Paris FC s’intéresse à Arsène Kouassi ! 🔵⚪️ Les dirigeants sont entrés en contacts avec son entourage pour présenter le projet Parisien. 👀 En manque de liquidité, Marseille a tenté le coup mais ne peut factuellement pas se positionner par manque de cash.… pic.twitter.com/NLIsZYliBU— Sacha Tavolieri (@sachatavolieri) June 27, 2026
The Burkina Faso international thrived in the French top flight last season after his club’s promotion, notching two goals and six assists.
Importantly like Ekomie, a key strength of Kouassi’s is his ability to carry the ball and beat his man out wide. We all praise Gudmundsson for his dribbling, but his 0.27 successful dribbles per 90 and 33.3% success rate pales in comparison to Kouassi’s 1.27 successful dribbles and 53.6% rate.
As noted above, £8.5million is again said to be the asking price with strong interest from other French sides.
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