Forget Connor Roberts, Leeds United should move to sign Wolves defender this summer: View | OneFootball

Leeds United are in need of a right-back this summer and Wolves' Ki-Jana Hoever would be a better option for the Whites than Burnley's Connor Roberts.

Leeds United have been linked with a move for Burnley's Connor Roberts following the right-back's loan spell in West Yorkshire during the second half of 2023/24.

After Roberts and the Whites failed to make an immediate return to the top-flight, Leeds supporters are resigned to the fact that they will lose a number of key players this summer, and their squad next season will likely be weaker when the 2024/25 season starts.

Loanees such as Joe Rodon, Jaidon Anthony, and Roberts are all set to return to their parent clubs for pre-season training commencing in the next few months, but Leeds could be looking to weaken one of their direct promotion rivals with a move for one of the trio.

The case for Leeds United signing Roberts

It was first reported by TEAMtalk that Leeds were planning on securing a permanent deal for Roberts as they look ahead to next season. That has since been reported further by The Athletic's Leeds United writer Nancy Froston, who believes Rodon and Roberts are both targets in the Championship.

The same reasons for signing Rodon also apply to Roberts in many ways. Leeds will be short of experienced Premier League players within their squad once the likes of Liam Cooper, Stuart Dallas, and Luke Ayling depart. The futures of Jamie Shackleton and Junior Firpo also remain unclear, which could leave Leeds short of defensive reinforcements across their back line.

The pair would add continuity and familiarity, which are much-needed qualities, whilst Roberts would plug the right-back gap and give Farke a younger, yet still experienced, upgrade on Sam Byram. He is 28 with a better injury record than Byram, and makes a lot of sense for the Whites as an option at full-back, who will have the required exposure to Farke’s style of play to slot in seamlessly, too.

Roberts may not have featured heavily during his loan spell, but with his Burnley contract having just a year left, it could be a low fee, cost-effective signing, and the sort of deal a club vying for promotion should be looking to make. A full pre-season and clean bill of health could see him take the starting spot for his own on the right.

Roberts is vastly experienced at Championship level, and helped Burnley win the title in 2023 as well, and has almost 200 games in the second tier under his belt. By no means did the Welshman set the world alight during his time at Leeds, but he's a reliable Championship right-back, and not only would signing him strengthen their squad, but it would also weaken Burnley's squad.

That would give the Whites a boost against a side who are likely to be one of their main promotion rivals next season. Roberts played 15 times for Leeds in all competitions, mainly appearing from the bench, but scored once and registered one assist, and he appears to be popular amongst players and supporters alike at Elland Road.

Leeds have had to use midfielder Archie Gray at right-back this season, but Farke's side will need to strengthen in this position even if Gray stays, as it would give him the chance to play in the centre of the park and in his preferred position. Roberts also appeared to enjoy his time at Leeds, and they could do a lot worse than try to sign him permanently this summer, particularly if it weakens a promotion rival in Burnley.

The alternative to Connor Roberts

Leeds probably didn't see Roberts at his best during his loan at Elland Road, but he's a dependable right-back, particularly at Championship level. However, they could, and perhaps should, be looking at a younger alternative as a long-term solution to their right-back problem.

One of the Championship's best right-backs last season came in the form of Ki-Jana Hoever, who is finally beginning to realise the potential that saw Liverpool bring him to England in 2018 after he had impressed in Ajax's youth teams.

The versatile defender came through the youth ranks as more of a right-sided central defender, where he made four senior appearances for the Reds before joining Wolves in 2021 for a reported fee of £9 million but struggled to break through at Molineux and he instead joined Stoke City on loan in January 2023.

Hoever then became a hit at the bet365 Stadium under Alex Neil, registering four goals and one assist as his successful spell prompted the Potters to loan him in again for the full 2023/24 season, with the majority of his appearances coming as a right-back.

The 22-year-old was a near ever-present under Neil and then Steven Schumacher last campaign as he made 44 appearances in all competitions, netting four goals and notching five assists and playing a key role in their Championship survival.

His development has seen him shift from being more of a ball-playing centre-back to a right-back or right-sided wing-back, and that versatility, and quality, as well as the propensity to improve further, should suit Farke a lot.

Leeds would be an ideal destination for Hoever for a number of reasons. He could be utilised as an attacking or defensive-minded right-back, but such is his quality now that he should be allowed to flaunt his notable attacking prowess.

Hoever is also likely to be made available on loan again this summer by Wolves, with his contract not up at Molineux until 2027 but Gary O'Neil is presumably set to continue to prefer Nelson Semedo and Matt Doherty next season.

However, he could even be seen as a permanent signing, should Leeds use the funds budgeted for Roberts on Hoever instead. The 22-year-old is going to be the much better player long-term, but is also ready to step up to a team towards the top-end of the division, with ambitions of automatic promotion.

His running power, comfortability in possession, and energy down the flank are akin to Roberts at his best in years gone by, albeit Hoever is almost seven years his junior and more athletic; whilst he is evidently on a steep upward trajectory at the moment, highlighting the enormous upside in terms of potential, too.