There’s never a dull moment as a Leeds United correspondent but we do seem to have reached a momentary transfer lull after a fruitful few days.
Last week began with the news that Leeds had submitted a third bid for Sean Longstaff, before the unveiling of Gabriel Gudmundsson on Tuesday. Then came the announcement that Sam Byram had penned a one-year renewal.
United have made good progress over the course of a month but it has had its disappointments. Four fresh arrivals have been warmly received but more is needed and the news of setbacks only churns the angst of an already emotional fanbase.
News on Wednesday that the £12m bid for Sean Longstaff had been rejected - and that it had been the third offer to be turned away - let some air out of the balloon. Supporters had already learned that the club’s chances of acquiring Hoffenheim midfielder Anton Stach were lower than first thought.
And this came after Sunderland nicked two players Leeds were looking at. There have been subsequent comparisons between the Black Cats and the Whites given their newly-promoted status and identical three-year loss caps of £61million.
Sunderland have been willing to pay more for targets while Leeds have been more stubborn. United refrained from offering more than their initial £22m bid for Habib Diarra, having always been pessimistic about their chances, while another shortlisted midfielder in Noah Sadiki soon headed to the Stadium of Light afterwards.
It has left many supporters asking why Leeds have appeared to be so lethargic. There are a number of reasons that go some way to answering that, and the club would likely rail back against the notion they have not been ambitious.
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At least two new recruits had rival clubs after them, including Jaka Bijol - and the Whites won out. Udinese wanted a figure of around £17m for their man but Leeds ended up agreeing a fee of £15m, albeit possible add-ons could take the fee to around the original price tag.
Leeds have not paid over the odds and it’s been clear that the 49ers will not pay above what they feel a player is worth. That’s not to say there is no wiggle room, but there is a big difference between the £22m offered for Diarra and the £30m paid by Sunderland.
Habib Diarra celebrates a Strasbourg goal
Habib Diarra celebrates a Strasbourg goal (Image: Getty Images Europe)
Only time will tell whether such a price is justified. The truth is that Sunderland are working from a much weaker starting squad base than Leeds and so will have to pay over market value to get enough players in quickly to compete.
Their signings are not just much-needed but vital. In the spirit of the game, it's refreshing to see a club in such a position give it a go rather than to accept inevitable relegation in order to try and come back up next time. But it’s a risky game to spend so much if they do get relegated.
The fee received for Jobe Bellingham only covers £27.8m of the £99m spent. Another aspect to note is that Sunderland have a lower wage bill among last season’s contracted players than Leeds, which reflects the quality of the core.
United have the likes of Joe Rodon, Daniel James and Wilfried Gnonto who have all experienced Premier League football. In fact, as many as 12 Leeds players have played in the English top flight - Sunderland barely have a quarter of that amount.
Additionally, a number of their players are set to take part in the Africa Cup of Nations during the winter. Currently, Leeds have no-one due to set off for the tournament.
But then that still leaves the valid query of why Leeds are gunning for certain targets they deem unlikely to get. Habib was one, Stach is one and Torino goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic is another.
Torino goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic
Torino goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic (Image: Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images)
The answer is that the 49ers are employing a philosophy that critics have accused them of ditching - ambition. At the end of the day, Leeds need players who are going to keep them in the Premier League and these talents will have numerous clubs after them.
It’s been underlined that Leeds turn away from a player if they signal no interest in joining - but if they do then they will venture further, no matter how narrow the passage. If you don’t shoot then you can never score, so to speak.
At the same time, Leeds need to cut their cloth accordingly. Bigger existing wages and the need to sell players against spending limits all contribute towards the robust stance on price tag valuations.
Furthermore, some areas need more concentration than others, such as the goalkeeper and a top class striker, who will inevitably cost a pretty penny. What they can save elsewhere can help towards the amount spent on these marquee singings.
Ao Tanaka meanwhile acts as an example of how it is not the end of the world if first choice signings are missed out on. Tanaka was a late-window arrival last year and ended up scooping two awards at the club awards evening.
In the same breath, United cannot afford to play catch-up in the market. At least five core signings have to be acquired, Bijol and Gudmundsson being two of them. A minimum two more need to be brought in before the opening game against Everton.
After a tricky three opening matches comes a good run against teams United will fancy their chances against. Leeds need to have most, if not all, of the main figures settled in by then.
This transfer market will forever be a balancing act before deadline hour on September 1. But it's not time to panic just yet.
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