Leeds United are closing in on a deadline day loan move for Nice defender Melvin Bard. The Premier League club will pay a €1 million (£860,000) fee for the season-long arrangement and hold an option to make the deal permanent for a further €5 million (£4.3m).
Bard is scheduled to fly to England from France on Tuesday to complete a medical at Elland Road. His arrival addresses a pressing need for defensive reinforcement, especially after Joe Rodon suffered a hamstring injury in Sunday's 1-1 draw with Brentford. That result leaves Leeds 8th in the Premier League with four points from two games, scoring twice and conceding once. They sit just two points behind leaders Manchester City.
Why Leeds needed a left-back
Manager Daniel Farke's options on the left side of defence were extremely limited. "The addition will add depth to the full-back positions with Gabriel Gudmundsson the only current left-sided option available to manager Daniel Farke," the manager said. While James Justin can play there, he is naturally right-footed and his versatility means he is often required as cover at centre-back and right wing-back. Bard, who stands 5ft 8in and has experience as a wing-back, provides a dedicated solution. His signing also allows Justin to focus on providing cover across the back line, which is vital with Rodon now joining Ilia Gruev and Mateo Joseph on the injuries list.
What Melvin Bard brings to Elland Road
The 25-year-old Frenchman has played exclusively in Ligue 1 since the 2019-20 season, featuring for Lyon before his move to Nice. He has made 168 appearances in the French top flight, along with a further 19 in the Europa League and Conference League. That experience at a high level is expected to help him adapt quickly to the demands of the Premier League. His arrival will be a relief to supporters who were concerned about the squad's depth following Rodon's injury.
How the deal affects other deadline day business
Bard's move is directly linked to the departure of Wilfried Gnonto. Leeds permitted the attacker to travel to Italy, where he was pictured in a Fiorentina training kit on Monday night. Club sources maintained Gnonto would not be allowed to leave unless a replacement was secured. With Bard's deal agreed, Gnonto's transfer is now expected to be finalized. Leeds are also advancing on other business, with negotiations over a permanent transfer for Burnley's Largie Ramazani having progressed on Monday. The Belgian is expected to complete that move before Tuesday's 11pm deadline.
Where Bard fits into the current squad
Bard would become Leeds' sixth senior signing of the summer transfer window. He joins goalkeeper James Trafford, goalkeeper Michael Zetterer, defender Nico Elvedi, defender Tarik Muharemovic, and forward Harry Wilson as new arrivals. His immediate role will be to compete with Gudmundsson for the starting left-back spot, providing the squad with much-needed strength in depth. This defensive solidity will be important for the upcoming fixture away to Brighton on September 5th. Brighton currently sit 9th in the table, one place below Leeds. Fans can track the team's progress and upcoming matches on the fixtures and standings pages.
The club's activity shows a busy end to the window as they build a squad capable of maintaining their strong early-season form.
