In Melvin Bard, Leeds United have found the cover they needed at left wing-back and left-sided centre-back.

The 25-year-old has signed on loan from Nice with an option to make the deal permanent.

He is Leeds’ sixth signing of the summer.

Bard began his career with Lyon, but moved to Nice in 2021.

THE BARD OF BEESTON: Melvin Bard signs on the dotted line (Image courtesy of Leeds United)

placeholder image — THE BARD OF BEESTON: Melvin Bard signs on the dotted line (Image courtesy of Leeds United)

There he played in two French cup finals – losing both – and all three major UEFA club competitions.

A permanent deal for the French youth international is set to cost Leeds around £4.3m.

Until Bard's arrival, Leeds had no left-footed cover for either Gabriel Gudmundsson or Tarik Muharemovic beyond their youth ranks.

Gudmundsson's pre-season injury and the hamstring problem Joe Rodon picked up against Brentford on Sunday highlighted what a risk that was.

LOAN SIGNING: Nice defender Melvin Bard (Image: Marco BERTORELLO / AFP via Getty Images)

The versatile James Justin is able to cover all defensive positions, but is right-footed. Manager Daniel Farke had expressed his preference for players who give a different angle to the play by being on their strong side.

Justin was covering for Gudmundsson against the Bees, meaning that when Rodon went off, Leeds were down to their last three specialist central defender in Muharemovic, debutant Nico Elvedi and Jaka Bijol.

Right-footer Sam Byram was a back-up left-back, but has joined Middlesbrough after Leeds released him in the summer.

The Whites had wanted to add a left-footed centre-back this summer, but Bosnian Muharemovic only took the place of Pascal Struijk, who joined Brighton and Hove Albion for £20m. Gudmundsson is comfortable on the left of a back three, having played there for Sweden at this summer's World Cup.

But just seven senior defenders to cover five positions was not enough. Bard has changed the equation.