Whether it was in the closing stages of the transfer window or the days that have followed, Daniel Farke's frustration at Leeds United's failure to add to their forward options has been pretty clear for all to see. Farke is not the sort to call out the owners, but there have been enough comments and hints, making his position clear.
Ultimately, Leeds couldn't manage in the closing stages of the window to add to the £100m plus they spent this summer. In the wake of Saturday's frustrating 1-0 defeat at Fulham, Farke suggested that inability to add to the squad could have made the difference in the capital, pointing to the impact made by Fulham's Kevin, a player he has revealed he wanted to sign this summer.
Fulham spent a club-record £34.5m to sign Kevin from Shakhtar Donetsk on transfer deadline day, while Leeds were scrambling to get a deal done for Harry Wilson from the Cottagers.
“If you spend so much money, this is what you get. It’s why I was so on it to add to our offensive block”, Farke said after his side's disappointing defeat.
“If you can bring a player with so much quality on, in the 70th minute, you can inspire a whole stadium.
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“You create chances, force a goalkeeper to make a save, win a corner, and create a situation. I’m not surprised, I was aware of his quality, the only bad thing is that sadly, we couldn’t afford him.”
Once again the point was underlined by the manager, but neither Farke nor 49ers Enterprises can do anything about that or the shape of the squad now. Not until January, and even then it'll be difficult, can Leeds make any changes so continually referring to what may have been or what didn't transpire will not help Farke or Leeds' cause.
The Leeds boss still has options, the trouble is his star man last season Daniel James has not managed to take that form into the Premier League at the start of a new season, he's bedding in new players like Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha, while Jack Harrison is finding his way back at the club. There's so many obstacles in Leeds' way, what they don't need is to spend anytime wondering what may have been, with sorting out the here an now the only focus.
A game against Wolverhampton Wanderers this weekend provides an opportunity to pick up points and return to winning ways. Only those in the squad can affect that, not any transfer targets who never arrived. It's time to put the frustration of the window to bed!
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