Leeds United transfers
Leeds United made multiple transfers in the summer window. The club decided to revamp their team as they prepared to take on the challenge of the Premier League.
The Whites spent over £100 million on 10 players brought in to strengthen the team. But it was obvious from pre-season that the club had overlooked one area of the team – the attack. Daniel Farke made it clear that he wanted additions up top; Leeds eventually signed some players but the quality has been underwhelming so far.
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The club spent just £18 million on Noah Okafor; signing Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha on free transfers. These three have brought mixed results since the season began.
Calvert-Lewin started off brightly, but is currently on a six-game goal drought. Lukas Nmecha has had his bright spots, but has not been trusted by Farke much this season. Okafor has arguably been the best of the bunch; he is the only player in attack willing to force the issue this season.
Leeds United blew £30m on questionable transfers
Out of the 10 signings so far, just a handful of them have been active in the first team this season. Lucas Perri has had a poor start as Leeds’ first choice keeper, and Gabriel Gudmundsson has quietly been a solid performer at left-back. Anton Stach and Sean Longstaff have been solid in the midfield, while Okafor has shown the brightest moments in attack. Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been Daniel Farke’s main striker this campaign.
However, there remains the problem of the £30 million worth of transfers that have been unused this season. Jaka Bijol, Sebastiaan Bornauw and James Justin have a combined 12 appearances between them this season. Bijol has been in the lineup for the past few games, and has showed why Farke kept him out of the team for most of the season.
Justin and Bornauw on the other hand have been rarely used. The Belgian has been left out of multiple matchday squads this season, while Justin has just 90 minutes of action in the league.
49ers to blame for horrible recruitment
It is very frustrating to see those three players on the bench every other week. That £30 million could have been spent to add more quality in attack. Leeds infamously backed out of a deal to sign Habib Diarra because of the price tag. They also failed in moves to sign Igor Paixao, Facundo Buonanotte and Harry Wilson.
Their fellow promoted side Sunderland were aggressive in the market, and spent what was necessary. Club chiefs will argue PSR played a part in why the budget was limited, but the £100 million could have been used on much better signings.
Now the club has to hope January will be enough to save a team with a lot of holes that failed to be plugged during the summer window.
Leeds United fans now look at Sunderland, who are 4th in the Premier League, with envy. The Black Cats have shown how to recruit properly and it has shown on the pitch – they have left Leeds owners red faced as the Whites prepare for a long relegation battle.
As Jamie Carragher said yesterday, Leeds fans look at Sunderland this season and think ‘that could and maybe should have been us’ – Sunderland a team who are now leaving Leeds in their dust despite finishing 24 points behind Daniel Farke’s men last season.
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