Leeds United should target Yorkshire reunion with Mason Holgate

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Leeds United have seemed happy not to bring in any new players in the January transfer window. However, it is clear to some fans that there are areas of the team that need to be filled.

The injury record of Luke Ayling and Gaetano Berardi have left Leeds short at right-back recently. Stuart Dallas has played in the role, but struggled. Leeds are also short at centre-back, with Pontus Jansson and Liam Cooper the only true strong candidates.

So bringing in a player who could play both roles would be brilliant business.

Everton defender Mason Holgate, for example, would be the perfect option. The talented 21-year-old is happy at both right-back and centre-back. He is currently not playing regularly for Everton, with the club full in the centre-back department and Seamus Coleman and Jonjoe Kenny capable at right-back.

A loan deal might be exactly what Holgate needs.

And where better than Leeds?

The Yorkshire lad would no doubt relish a return to his home county. He has in fact played for Leeds. As reported in the Yorkshire Post, Holgate left Barnsley in 2010 for a brief spell at Leeds. The then 13-year-old swiftly headed back to Oakwell as he did not settle in his new surroundings.

Now he is a grown man with Premier League experience.

Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa wants to keep a small tight-knit squad. However, at the moment they are clearly being stretched beyond their means.

Holgate would add reliable stability in two key positions. With Everton and Leeds recently doing business over Matthew Pennington, any deal should be easy to put together. Leeds should be keen on Holgate. It might be a missing piece of their promotion jigsaw.