Victor Orta must avoid repeat of £1.5m Laurens De Bock error at Leeds United

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Leeds United have been linked with a whole host of names already this month, as they attempt to out the final touches to a team pushing for promotion to the Premier League.

Marcelo Bielsa wants a new goalkeeper, which appears to be Kiko Casilla. Another winger or attacking midfielder is also wanted in order to replace the departed Samuel Saiz.

Victor Orta, however, must ensure he performs better in his role of identifying players then he did last year.

Leeds signed Laurens De Bock from Club Brugge last January, for a reported fee of £1.5 million.

The Belgian had once been on the cusp of an international cap for his nation but had fallen out of favour at the Belgian side.

It proved to be a poor signing from Leeds.

De Bock struggled for form during his time at the club and injury soon saw him out of Paul Heckingbottom’s side. In the summer, he was loaned out to KV Oostende, where his form has been equally below-par.

The truth was, De Bock had been showing signs of deteriorating form prior to Leeds’ signing of the player. He had played just six times in the first half of the Belgian Jupiler Pro League season.

Leeds United’s director of football must ensure he is signing players on an upward trend and not the reverse this January to avoid a repeat of the De Bock debacle.