This article is part of Football League World's 'The Verdict' series, which provides personal opinions from the FLW writers regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa looks like he does not want to get caught short in the latter stages of the Championship season, with The Northern Echo suggesting that the Whites are keen on Middlesbrough defender Daniel Ayala.

Ayala is out of contract in the summer and with Boro likely to be unable to offer him a new deal on comparable or better terms, it could well be they look to sell him on in January, rather than lose him for a free in the summer.

But would Ayala start for Leeds if he moved to Elland Road in January?

We discuss..........

Kris Smith

“There is no chance of him starting if White and Cooper are both fit and the former actually stays at the club, amid rumours of Premier League interest.

“At the moment, White and Cooper are statistically the best defensive pairing in the league having conceded just nine goals in 15 games.

“Middlesbrough are in disarray at the minute and while it’s not Ayala’s fault they’re in this rut, it would be difficult to justify him improving Leeds’ current defence.

“Marcelo Bielsa very rarely strays from his preferred lineup and he had opportunities to add more depth to the back four but chose against it, so with that in mind I don’t think Ayala would start for Leeds if he were to sign.”

Dean Cooke

"He'd be a good signing for Leeds, but I'm not sure if he'd start purely down to the ever-growing partnership of Ben White and Liam Cooper.

"Yes, Ayala is a proven Championship defender, but he isn't having the best season at Middlesbrough and is probably looking for a route out.

"Cooper has been good so far, but White has been outstanding for Leeds so it'd be unlikely the latter would be dropped. Then in saying that, it's unlikely Marcelo Bielsa would drop the captain in Cooper so I honestly don't think he'd be starting.

"The defender would massively improve the squad depth, and is an upgrade on Gaetano Berardi, but he'd have to hope for a couple of knocks to the starting duo to find a place in the first XI."

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George Harbey

"I don't think so - Ben White and Liam Cooper are arguably one of the best defensive pairings in the Championship.

"The pair have helped Leeds boast an incredible defensive record, so bringing in someone else halfway through the season would be a bold call by Bielsa and it could disrupt dressing room morale.

"Ayala is obviously a very experienced defender who has showed real flashes of quality over the past few years.

"But Leeds need depth in their defensive areas, and I can only see him being used as a back-up option if he signed for Leeds."