Former Leeds United midfielder Andy Couzens has told FLW that he believes the Whites need to look to bolster their defensive options during the summer transfer window.  

Speaking to FLW at length this week, Couzens has discussed an array of topics surrounding Leeds, including the club’s current squad.

There has been plenty of debate about Leeds’ current defensive options, after two poor goals were given away in Wednesday night’s 2-2 draw against Derby County in the Sky Bet Championship.

Couzens has given his verdict on the options available to Paul Heckingbottom, with the 42-year-old admitting he doesn’t believe they are as strong as the group Garry Monk had available to him last term.

The likes of Kyle Bartley, Rob Green and Charlie Taylor helped to guide Leeds to a seventh placed finish last season, but the trio departed in the summer, leaving just Pontus Jansson, Luke Ayling, Liam Cooper and Gaetano Berardi.

Discussing Leeds’ defensive frailties, Couzens said: “I think the back five need to be looked at.

“You look at the back five from last year that had Bartley in there, Green in there, Ayling, we had Berardi in there, we had Taylor in there.

“I think we need to be a bit more solid particularly in this league, and I do think if we had last season’s back four or back five, I don’t think we’d be that far away because we kept clean sheets.”

The Whites currently sit 11^th in the Championship table with 13 fixtures of the season remaining, with Heckingbottom facing a huge task if he is to haul Leeds back into play-off contention.

Couzens analysed what Heckingbottom currently had available to him, and looking ahead to the summer, pinpointed the key areas that Leeds need to be looking to strengthen.

He concluded: “The current squad as it is, I think we are okay midfield-wise, I’d like a little bit more pace down the sides and a little bit of help up top.

“The back five is where we will score more points if we can keep clean sheets, because we are going to score goals.

“I don’t think we are far off, but we do need some additions in there.”

Leeds fans… Where would you like to see Heckingbottom strengthen in the summer? Let us know your thoughts!