The 1-0 defeat at Fulham has raised some serious questions about Leeds United’s transfer recruitment in the summer. The club failed to adequately strengthen the club’s forward line despite insistence all summer that they had funds to bring in a couple of top forwards.
Leeds managing director Robbie Evans claimed after the transfer window closed that the club spent every penny they could to improve the squad, and could not have done any more without breaking the Premier League’s financial rules.
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However, Leeds tabled £30m+ bids for Igor Paixao and Rodrigo Muniz, and fans are wondering where all that money went as they only added Dominic Calvert-Lewin, on a free, and Noah Okafor, for £18m, towards the end of the transfer window.
Leeds also spent big on improving their defence and midfield, but given the personnel used, the supporters are now questioning one particular £15m recruit in the summer.
Can you name the team Leeds United signed these players from in the 2000s?
Did Leeds need to complete this £15m transfer in the summer?
Leeds splashed out £15m to sign centre-back Jaka Bijol from Udinese in the summer, but he is yet to play a minute of Premier League football this season.
The 26-year-old was seen as an upgrade on the current centre-backs, but a suspension meant that he missed the opening game against Everton.
Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk have done nothing wrong to drop out of the team, and Bijol has been left waiting for his turn under a coach like Daniel Farke, who rarely changes his centre-backs.
The Slovenian defender’s performance during the international break didn’t fill anyone with confidence, but it is hard to judge him, given that he has yet to receive a proper chance.
However, questions must be asked of sporting director Adam Underwood and his recruitment team’s decision-making, given Leeds have two top centre-backs in Rodon and Struijk.
Leeds also signed Sebastiaan Bornauw, but he was always seen as a cover for the defenders. However, Bijol was seen as a starting eleven player when he arrived.
Leeds could have done with at least one more forward
Bijol may still turn out to be a top player for Leeds, but for now, he seems like a waste of money in a summer when the club needed more teeth in their attack.
It is not a reflection on the Slovenian’s ability, but questions should be asked whether Leeds need an extra centre-back when they look short in attack.
£15m could have brought in one more forward for the Leeds squad, or a top striker on loan. Yet, Leeds decided to spend it on a centre-back, who is not even coming on from the bench in Premier League games.
This one decision could come back to haunt Underwood and the rest of the recruitment team.
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