Burton Albion manager Nigel Clough has said the club are unlikely to sign Leeds United defender Conor Shaughnessy this summer despite talks between the two clubs.

The 23-year-old has not appeared for Marcelo Bielsa’s side this season and it is understood that the Argentine coach is happy to let him go out on loan this season.

League One sides Bolton and Burton have both been linked with a move for the Irishman this summer.

However, speaking to the Derbyshire Telegraph, Clough confirmed that a move to Burton now looked unlikely for Shaughnessy.

He said: “We have had chats about Conor.

“A few weeks ago with Leeds, we nearly did something but we just needed something different.

"We knew we were taking maybe Ryan Edwards and we needed a midfielder more than a defender.

"We don't envisage adding anybody at the moment, we are happy with the squad that we've got if they can all get fit."

He added: “We've got four possible centre-halves here and we think that will probably be enough.

"We always look to that to the other end of the pitch for that creativity if we are going to take anything at all.”

Shaughnessy has made 15 senior appearances for Leeds after joining on a free transfer from Reading in 2016.

He spent the second half of last season on loan at Hearts in the SPFL, making 11 appearances.

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The Verdict

Shaughnessy looks set to be the latest in a list of young players to depart Elland Road this summer, however, his move appears set to only be a temporary one.

Ben White has looked a solid replacement for Pontus Jansson at centre-back but with Liam Cooper and Gaetano Berardi the only other centre-backs in the senior squad Leeds look a bit light in that position.

However, the Shaughnessy has played just 45 minutes of first-team football under Bielsa, so it appears he may not be a player that the Argentine coach has much faith in.

If the Leeds boss doesn’t feel as though the 23-year-old is in his immediate plans then a loan move looks a smart decision.