Leeds United in talks with Everton over fresh Pennington loan

Matthew Pennington battles with Sheffield United's Leon Clarke during his loan at Leeds United last season.

Pennington has attracted bids from several Championship clubs, Leeds included, after Everton made the defender available for another season-long spell elsewhere.

United want to sign cover at centre-back and Pennington would be unlikely to arrive as first choice with Liam Cooper and Pontus Jansson at the top of head coach Marcelo Bielsa’s pecking order.

The 23-year-old, however, is familiar with Leeds and their Thorp Arch training complex after spending the whole of last season on loan at Elland Road.

He played 24 times in a campaign affected by an ankle ligament injury suffered on the very first weekend.

Despite mixed form and a term in which the club conceded 64 times, Leeds were interested in signing him full-time this summer but saw Everton rule out permanent offers by handing him a new contract to 2021.

He does not figure in the immediate plans of new Everton boss Marco Silva, though, and is set to spend another year in England’s second tier.

Wigan Athletic are also keenly interested and would be able to offer Pennington a regular starting place from the outset.

A decision on his destination is not expected to be made in time for Leeds’ first league game of the season at home to Stoke City on Sunday.

United have made five signings so far this summer and are also pondering central midfield options after selling Ronaldo Vieira to Sampdoria for £7.7m yesterday.

The EFL’s window for permanent signings closes next Thursday but loan deals are permitted until August 31.