Whelan in awe of ‘perfect’ Perraud as Leeds open talks over summer deal
Stade Brest full-back Romain Perraud would “fit perfectly” at Leeds United next season, according to Noel Whelan.
The former Whites and Middlesbrough striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed the 23-year-old would give much-needed balance to Marcelo Bielsa’s side if signed this summer.
Football Insider understands Leeds are expecting to seal a deal for the French full-back when the transfer window opens after “encouraging talks”.
It comes after the Yorkshire club made Perraud their top left-back target following meetings between sporting director Victor Orta and manager Marcelo Bielsa.
Perraud contributed three goals and seven assists in 36 appearances in the 2020-21 Ligue 1 campaign.
He has four years left on his deal at Stade Brest, having put pen to paper on a two-year contract extension in January.
When asked by Football Insider‘s Dylan Childs for his thoughts on the potential arrival of Perraud, Whelan said:
“Perraud is the right age and the way he plays his game he will fit perfectly in at Leeds United.
“He likes to get up and down that left-hand side and he is clearly a creative player given the amount of assists he got last season.
“When you look at the right-hand side of our team it is very well balanced with Luke Ayling and Raphinha. We need that same balance on the left-hand side and we have never really had that.
“Alioski has been fantastic at times but he is still a square peg in a round hole. We need a recognised left-back because it will benefit us not only defensively but going forward.”
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