Leeds United face Gulf rivals while eyeing 29‑year‑old left‑back

Leeds United Face Gulf rivals as they secured a 1‑0 win at Elland Road on Saturday, with Noah Okafor scoring two minutes after his substitution to end a five‑game winless Premier League run. The victory lifted Leeds to ninth place with 14 points from ten matches, though concerns lingered over Gabriel Gudmundsson’s hamstring injury.

Match impact and injury

Gabriel Gudmundsson went off at half‑time with a hamstring problem, and Melvin Bard replaced him. Daniel Farke would hope his first‑choice left‑back returns after the international break, in time for Chelsea away on November 21.

That hope is a little uncertain, because this is the Swede’s third hamstring problem since April. One cost him the last four league games of last season, another disrupted this campaign’s start, and Farke’s 3‑5‑2 demands a left wing‑back who can sprint the touchline and still recover behind him.

Transfer options and constraints

Melvin Bard, 26, arrived on deadline day from Nice on a season‑long loan for a reported €1m fee, with an option to buy at €5m, about £4.3m. Leeds had only seven senior defenders for five positions before he came, and his ability to play left‑back or on the left of a back three eased that shortage.

Leeds might not be able to spend heavily in January, so any addition needs a clear purpose. Porto face a contract decision, and Zaidu Sanusi is the reported target.

Sport Witness says his confidant Aliyu Ibrahim told Footy‑Africa that Leeds hold strong interest in the 29‑year‑old Porto left‑back for the winter window, viewing him as Bard’s permanent replacement. His contract expires in June, so overseas clubs can agree a pre‑contract from January, forcing Porto to choose between renewal and sale. Ibrahim says the Nigerian international wants to stay after almost a decade in Portugal, depending on Porto’s offer, while Saudi Arabian and Qatari clubs have approached.

Porto’s Francesco Farioli said last month, “We’ll see what happens” in January. Reports put a January fee at €2m to €3m, roughly £1.7m to £2.6m, and Sanusi offers pace, sound one‑against‑one defending and 44 European appearances. His reported 76 per cent Champions League passing accuracy sits awkwardly with wing‑backs who must progress play; he has started only five league games, and a cruciate injury cost him most of two seasons.

Leeds should buy him as depth, not as Bard’s replacement, because Bard also covers left centre‑back. A pre‑contract delivers him free in July, so a January fee buys only six months of cover, and Gudmundsson’s hamstring is the only reason to pay it.