According to reports, new Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa has shown interest in AC Ajaccio’s defender Manuel Cabit, as the boss gets ready to land his first signing at Elland Road. The former Argentina and Chile boss will be reinforcing his squad in preparation for the new season. However, Leeds will have to see off competition from Lens, Montpellier and Metz if they are to land Cabit as their first signing.
Who is Manuel Cabit? Here’s the profile of the 25-year-old specialist left-back.
Manuel Freddy Cabit is a French national of Martiniquais origin and is eligible to represent both nations. He was in the preliminary Martinique 40-man squad for the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup, although he failed to make it to the final 23-man squad.
Cabit started his youth career at Sochaux where he failed to make a single first-team appearance. He made his debut in the French lower leagues, making 10 appearances for Aubervilliers in the 2012/13 season. Another doomed spell at Chambly followed before he moved again to Belfort in 2014/15, featuring 33 times and scoring a goal.
The summer of 2015 saw him move to Beziers where he played 20 times, scoring a goal. The following summer, Cabit moved to Ligue 2 side Ajaccio and played 42 league games and 52 games in total, over two seasons. Last season, Cabit helped the Corsican side to the Ligue 1 promotion playoff. The side ultimately lost to Toulouse, who remained in the top-flight.
Interestingly, all his transfers have been as a free agent and there is no award for guessing the next line. He is a free agent again this summer, having run down his two-year contract at Ajaccio.
Leeds United struggled defensively last season, under both Thomas Christiansen and Paul Heckingbottom, conceding 53 goals, 6 more than the 47 goals that they scored in the Championship the whole campaign. Cabit would be a reinforcement in an area of weakness that Bielsa has identified.
Defender Charlie Taylor was sold to Premier League side Burnley and Gaetano Berardi, on-loan Manchester United youngster Cameron Borthwick-Jackson and Laurens de Bock are all struggling to make an impact when selected to start in the position.
Tom Pearce did have impressive performances at left-back when he was given a rare run of games towards the back end of the season. However, Pearce and Tyler Denton are likely to depart Elland Road as speculation over their moves keep growing. Cabit would be an ideal arrival at Elland Road this summer.
