Leeds United manager Daniel Farke, Leeds chairman Paraag Marathe
Credit: Imago
Niall Togher
Wed 3 September 2025 9:35, UK
Leeds United supporters are still attempting to process what happened on transfer deadline day.
Daniel Farke’s calls for one or two more attackers fell on deaf ears as United failed to secure a single signing on the final day of the window.
Leeds’ embarrassing last-ditch attempts for Harry Wilson and Emi Buendia were knocked back as the perceived lack of preparation left the Elland Road faithful scratching their heads.
With sporting director Adam Underwood and the 49ers facing unparalleled criticism, Leeds supporters are left wondering how the last month or so went so badly wrong.
Daniel Farke with his arms outstretched on the touchline.
Credit: Imago
Adam Underwood ‘backed himself to get it right’ when it came to Leeds transfers
Alongside Underwood, Paraag Marathe is also facing backlash for the false promises he sold the fanbase across multiple interviews that have now become infamous.
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The story of Leeds’ transfer business was one of rejection.
The Whites missed out on target after target and appeared to be chasing their own tail when it was evident to everyone on the outside that deals for the likes of Rodrigo Muniz were unlikely.
A lot of the blame for this window has fallen at Underwood’s feet, with Beren Cross sharing for The Athletic that sources close to Leeds’ sporting director claim he and his team were “confident in their own abilities and backed themselves to get it right” when it came to transfer dealings.
All three had “never held such senior positions during a summer transfer window”, and it became evident with the naivety they approached certain deals.
Whilst Underwood was said to know he had a lot to prove over transfers, the question is, should he have been allowed to do so with Leeds United’s Premier League fate hanging in the balance?
"History shows there's always a lot of activity in the last few weeks of the window" 👀
Leeds Chairman Paraag Marathe speaks about his ambitions for Leeds this season 🔊 pic.twitter.com/oViLQvXPcI
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 18, 2025
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Paraag Marathe also to blame for Adam Underwood failings
Underwood was said to be “fronting 80 per cent of each transfer”, so naturally fingers are being pointed at him at the failures in the window.
Here are just a few examples of reported targets Leeds missed out on:
Facundo Buonanotte
Igor Paixao
Emi Buendia
Rodrigo Muniz
Harry Wilson
Eduard Spertsyan
However, with the sporting director’s background coming from an academy setting as opposed to a recruitment one, Leeds chairman Marathe has to take the blame for allowing this in the first place.
Marathe was said to “value Underwood’s loyalty to the club” after “rejecting top-flight advances over the years”, but it is clear he placed too much stock in this loyalty as opposed to employing someone with a proven background in this field of work.
They will be praying that this doesn’t backfire spectacularly before January.
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