As well as being perenially cast with mid-table mediocrity last season – Leeds United were also ineffective in front of both goals. To sort the attacking end of the bargain out, Leeds have signed Swede Marcus Antonsson. It could very well be double Swede salvation according to the Bristol Post for Leeds United.
In a story about Bristol City reportedly offering released former-Watford player Joel Ekstrand a deal, the Post also say others are interested in the Swede’s services. With a passing reference to a Guardian article, they say that, “the likes of Leeds and Reading have also offered him contracts.”
Ekstrand, a two-cap Sweden international, last played competitively for the Hornets in March 2015, a game where he suffered a cruciate knee injury against Ipswich. The severity of the injury has meant that he missed all of Watford’s Premier League campaign, being released at the end of the season just gone.
Speaking upon departure from the North London club, Ekstrand said: “I’m sad to be leaving in this manner, without having played any games for a while, but I hope some of you remember that I gave my all for the club, and I hope to see you again some day.”
Should Leeds United be looking for a defender to shore up an often creaking centre of defence, they could do worse than look at the free transfer of Ekstrand. The Swede, who arrived at Watford from another Pozzo family club Udinese Calcio.
Udinese originally paid £1.35m for the rangy defender from Swedish side Helsingborgs before his loan/transfer deal to the Hornets during 2012/13 and 2013/14. During his time with the London club, the centre-back made 100 appearances, scoring two goals and providing one assist.
Leeds’ main pairings out of a combination of Giuseppe Bellusci, Sol Bamba and Liam Cooper didn’t overly impress for the Whites. Whilst there were some more than competent displays, at times, from all three players, there were some moments of abject horror too. Bellusci’s overhead kick clearance attempt stands above all others but there were also defensive capitulations against Brighton and Huddersfield to conside rtoo.
