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Charlie Bennett

Five free agents Leeds United could sign to bolster Jesse Marsch squad

The transfer window may be shut - but Leeds United can still sign new players. Plenty of free agents are still without a club and provide the Whites with an alternative route to bolster their squad.

Several Premier League sides have already used the bargain basement since the transfer window slammed shut. Wolverhampton Wanderers have taken a punt on former Chelsea striker Diego Costa whereas Newcastle United have signed Loris Karius as a backup goalkeeper.

Whites' supporters may feel there are gaps to fill despite signing seven new faces in the summer. LeedsLive profiled five names Jesse Marsch & Co could attempt to bring to Elland Road.

READ MORE: Raphinha, Phillips and the rest of Leeds United's summer exits' season so far

Jason Denayer

Denayer is arguably the most sought-after freebie on the market. With 35 caps for Belgium, the centre-back is experienced at, at 27, is entering his prime years.

Salary demands priced him out of an extension at Lyon but he could be tempted by a Premier League return. Denayer emerged from Manchester City’s youth academy and had a brief loan stint at Sunderland in 2016-17.

Diego Llorente came under fire for his poor showing against Brentford and the Belgian would provide solid competition in defence.

Jetro Willems

Left-back has provided another dilemma for Marsch so far this season. Pascal Struijk has acted as a makeshift in Junior Firpo’s absence and options appear scarce beyond that.

Willems, like Denayer, is an experienced international having played 22 times for the Netherlands. Injuries have hampered his progress in recent seasons but, as cover, he would be a solid option.

The 28-year-old spent the first half of 2019-20 at Newcastle before injury cut his loan move short. However, the Magpies were impressed by his marauding displays on the left and almost re-signed Willems the following summer.

Fabian Delph

Delph turned heads when he broke into the Leeds first team in 2008. After 13 years away, it would be poetic for the former England utility man to make a comeback.

A two-time Premier League winner, the 32-year-old would add a winning mentality to the Whites’ dressing room. Admittedly, he did not feature regularly for Everton in recent years but could still prove a useful addition to Leeds.

Matej Vydra

A surprise inclusion, but it shouldn’t be as Leeds are still short up front. Wilfried Gnonto’s arrival is styled as one for the future but Marsch needs someone for the present, too.

Vydra is far from prolific at Premier League level but can be used as a focal point for Jack Harrison, Luis Sinisterra, Rodrigo et al. Patrick Bamford continues to be plagued by injuries and the 46-cap Czech offers a short-term fix to a long-standing problem.

Danny Rose

Signing Rose is dependent on one issue - his desire. Once regarded as England’s best left-back, the 32-year-old has suffered a fall from grace in recent years.

Watford played Rose just eight times last season and released him upon relegation in May. However, if - and it is a big if - the former Tottenham Hotspur man has rediscovered his hunger for the game, there is no reason why he cannot do a job for Leeds to solve their left-back crisis.

Like others on this list, Rose’s experience could prove a vital asset to a dressing room that has several players who are naive to English football.

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