Leeds United are interested in bringing James Chester to Elland Road from Aston Villa as a replacement for Pontus Jansson, according to the DailyStar.
The Welsh international is likely to find himself further and further down the pecking order at Villa Park after Dean Smith has splashed the cash so far this summer, including the signing of FOUR centre backs; Tyrone Mings, Ezri Konsa, Kortney Hause and Bjorn Engles. This could be a boost for Bielsa as Chester could be tempted by the prospect of more first-team game time in a promotion hopeful side.
Chester joined Aston Villa four years ago from rival Midlands club West Brom for around £8 million and has made over 100 appearances in claret and blue since. Leeds will be hoping that the signing of such an experienced centre back will be able to fill the massive gap left by Swede Pontus Jansson, who departed Elland Road earlier this summer in a shock £5.5 million move to fellow Championship outfit Brentford.
Chester would be a smart addition to the Leeds dressing room and is no stranger to the prospect of promotion to the Premier League, achieving the feat twice so far in his career back in the 2012-2013 season with Hull City and of course last year with Aston Villa.
Chester would bring a cool head to a club who seems to regularly struggle with the final stretch of a promotion push and could offer much-valued experience in the situation to help Leeds finally jump the last hurdle and return to the Premier League for the first time since 2004.
