Leeds United are the latest team to enter the race for one of the Championship's most coveted stars if reports are to be believed...

What's the word?

According to The Sun, the Yorkshire giants are keen on signing Brentford left-back Rico Henry but they face competition from old foes Aston Villa as well as Brighton and Hove Albion.

It's claimed that the Bees could lose their first-choice defender following their defeat in the playoff final to local rivals Fulham last month.

Henry is valued at just £1.8m by Transfermarkt despite costing the west Londoners £5m in 2016.

Industrious

The 23-year-old featured in all 49 matches in the Championship last season where he averaged 1.9 clearances, 1.5 tackles, 0.8 dribbles and 0.7 key passes per game, via WhoScored.

His former boss at both Walsall and Brentford, Dean Smith, likened him to Chelsea great Ashley Cole and called him "something special" from the age of 16.

Currently, Marcelo Bielsa has Barry Douglas, Gjanni Alioski and the versatile Stuart Dallas in the role but Henry was one of the best performers in the Championship even above the Whites' trio.

But of the three, only Douglas is the natural option yet is he going to be trusted in the top-flight after just six starts last season?

Henry seems to be the perfect fit for Elland Road in terms of age and attacking talent, so Bielsa would undoubtably be able to work his magic to develop him into a potential senior international.

It remains to be seen how much the Bees would want to part ways, however.

AND in other news, Leeds could complete defence fit for PL with Serie A swoop...