Leeds United have gone about their business quietly this summer. The activity started off slow, as fans complained about the lack of arrivals.
But in the past few weeks, the club have stepped up and gotten some new faces in. So far, four new players have been added to the squad with pre-season beginning this week. Multiple first team players have reported for tests as the team ramps up fitness ahead of their pre season camping.
Most Read on The Leeds Press
Lukas Nmecha, Jaka Bijol, Sebastiaan Bornauw and Gabriel Gudmundsson have been brought in for around £30million. All these players were huge contributors for clubs in the Bundesliga and Serie A, so they definitely have the quality to play in the Premier League. And it looks like that is the plan going forward this summer.
QUIZ: Can you name the team Leeds United sold these players to?
Pundit criticizes Leeds United transfers
Credit: Leedsunited.com
After losing Habib Diarra to Sunderland, some fans complained about the ownership not being ambitious. Some fans are also unhappy about the low fees being spent.
Former Leeds man Paul Robinson has echoed this sentiment, saying that the recruitment has been ”underwhelming”.
It has been underwhelming. I think they’ve looked at previous promoted clubs, and it’s not the lack of goals scored, it’s the goals conceded that have been a problem, and you can see immediately that’s what they’re trying to strengthen.
“I think a lot of their recruitment is data-driven now. They look at players, and obviously there’s the manager’s test, there are a lot of people that sit around the table, they’ve got to pass the eye test as well, but I think a lot of it’s data-driven.
Robinson then compares Leeds’ summer to rivals Sunderland.
“I think the amount of players they’ve brought in for such a little fee, when we see Sunderland spending big, we see other teams spending big as well, £30million for that amount of players isn’t a lot of money.
“They’re players that won’t be getting Leeds fans out of the chair getting excited about next season. It’s certainly bolstering the squad. They’re quality-proven players, but actually, I think as far as transfer business-wise goes, it’s been underwhelming so far.“
Who are Leeds planning to sign?
This week, the Whites are pushing to sign Newcastle star Sean Longstaff. Leeds have been huge admirers of the midfielder and want him at Elland Road. As of Thursday, the club is preparing a new bid to sign the 27-year old.
Hoffenheim midfielder Anton Stach is another target.
This summer’s recruitment is a big plan
Leeds seem to have learned from what the newly-promoted clubs did last summer. Southampton and Ipswich Town in particular, spent huge sums on Premier League and Championship players and still got relegated.
The club is now finding starting calibre players on low fees who can come and impact the team, hopefully these signings work out next season.
Related Topics