Leeds United have had a few transfer misses over the years, but in recent seasons, they have sold players who have gone on to do much better, and could have been key solutions for the club had they stayed at Elland Road.
Charlie Cresswell’s rise since leaving Leeds for Toulouse last summer is the prime example. A product of the Leeds academy, the defender struggled to get games at Elland Road, but had a brilliant season in French football last season.
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West Ham probably would have brought him back to England had they not run out of time on transfer deadline day last week. He is almost certain to play for a top Premier League club in the near future.
Leeds’ recruitment team have been making such baffling decisions over the years, and one more young player was moved on a few years back without giving him a proper run. He is now wanted at one of the storied clubs of European football.
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Leeds United sold Elia Caprile, and he is now wanted at AC Milan
Leeds’ decision to sell the Italian goalkeeper to Bari for a paltry fee of £1.5m in 2022 baffled several observers, as he was impressive with the Under-21s.
However, Leeds decided to cash in, and while their goalkeeping department has had upheavals in recent years, Caprile is thriving in his native Italy.
The 24-year-old is the first-choice at Cagliari, and could soon he on his way to one of the biggest names in Italian football.
According to Calciomercato.com, AC Milan have identified him as a potential replacement for Mike Maignan, if he leaves in the winter window.
They are expecting Chelsea to make a move for the Frenchman again in January, and are keen to line up a replacement as early as possible.
Caprile has impressed their scouts, and he is one of the names at the top of their shortlist of goalkeeping targets.
Another Leeds transfer regret
In hindsight, Leeds should not have sold Caprile that early, but at that point, the club may not have wanted to block his development.
Illan Meslier was at the top of his game, and he was seen as the goalkeeper at Leeds for years to come. No one could have envisaged his decline in the next few years.
Leeds’ current goalkeeping crisis makes the sale of the Italian look like a mistake, but in 2022, the decision-makers didn’t have the benefit of hindsight.
The club believe that Lucas Perri will solve their goalkeeping woes, but his injury could expose the soft underbelly of the current squad in the game against Fulham this Saturday.
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