Leeds eye "exemplary" 6 ft 2 colossus in bargain swoop, could fix March's big problem - opinion

Leeds United are among the teams lining up a move for Timo Hubers this summer…

According to the Daily Mail, the Whites are one of several Premier League sides eyeing up the FC Koln defender, with the likes of Newcastle United, West Ham and Crystal Palace their likely competition.

He will enter the final 12 months of his current contract at the Bundesliga outfit, so could be available on the cheap with the report suggesting that he’s valued in the region of £6m.

Leeds have leaked more goals than any other English top-flight team this season (68), so it’s hardly a surprise to see them linked with the ball-playing 6 foot 2 colossus.

Something of an aerial threat with 14 goals from 161 career appearances across the senior and youth teams of Cologne and Hannover, Hubers could be a cheap fix to their defensive issues.

From 15 appearances in the Bundesliga this campaign, the 25-year-old rates out as Steffen Baumgart’s highest-rated player, even ahead of fellow Premier League-linked target Ellyes Skhiri and veteran Jonas Hector.

Also per WhoScored, he’s won 2.8 headers per game, which is more than every player at Elland Road bar skipper Liam Cooper (four), whilst he also averages a whopping 2.7 interceptions and 2.1 tackles per league outing too.

Those interception numbers exceed manager Jesse Marsch’s current options, including defensive midfield animal Kalvin Phillips.

Hubers has been described as an “exemplary” professional by Hannover 96’s sporting director Gerhard Zuber in the past, so he should have little trouble in transitioning from the German game to the Premier League and fellow countryman and centre-back Robin Koch could help him settle in quickly.

The American head coach has an array of options in the central