Leeds United’s problems at left-back continue to haunt them this season, with Paul Heckingbottom without a standout option at his disposal.

Charlie Taylor’s departure last summer saw Leeds lose one of the best young full-backs around, with Gaetano Berardi and Vurnon Anita failing to cover and January addition Laurens De Bock unimpressive since his arrival.

Elsewhere in the Sky Bet Championship, Joe Bryan is clearly the division’s standout left-back, but has this weekend been linked with a move to Aston Villa.

Here at FLW, we take a look at the domino effect that could have in the transfer market, and specifically at how that could play into Leeds’ hands in the summer.

Neil Taylor is currently Villa’s left-back, but a move for Bryan could see him on the move in the summer, with Steve Bruce clearly not fancying the Welsh international.

Alan Hutton has featured a lot at left-back, with Taylor left to watch on during parts of the season, including during Villa’s impressive winning run in early 2018.

The £4.5m-rated defender has still featured on 23 occasions this season, and has plenty of experience in the English game, as well as internationally, where he is a regular in the Welsh squad.

Taylor would be a vast improvement on what Leeds currently have available to them, and if Villa end up achieving promotion this season, the door could be open for the Whites to swoop in and secure a deal in the summer.

It is certainly an area Leeds need to improve if they are to transform themselves into promotion contenders, with the experiment of square pegs in round holes hasn’t worked and De Bock’s impact such a let down.

Paul Heckingbottom will be running the rule over his defence in particular, and could well be keeping an eye on Villa’s quest to sign Bryan, with the door slightly ajar to take 29-year-old Taylor in the summer.

Leeds fans… Let us know your thoughts!