The summer transfer window has closed and we will look at Leeds United transfer business
It started so well for Leeds, making some early signings to address key deficiencies last season of a small squad which suffered a lot of injuries. This resulted in a last day escape from relegation, something the fans and surely the board did not want the next season
Lets look at the signings first
Signings
| Date | Pos. | Player | Transferred from |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 June 2022 | AM | Brenden Aaronson | Red Bull Salzburg |
| 10 June 2022 | RB | Rasmus Kristensen | |
| 17 June 2022 | DM | Marc Roca | Bayern Munich |
| 4 July 2022 | CM | Darko Gyabi | Manchester City |
| 6 July 2022 | DM | Tyler Adams | RB Leipzig |
| 7 July 2022 | LW | Luis Sinisterra | Feyenoord |
| 19 July 2022 | ST | Sonny Perkins | West Ham United |
| 9 August 2022 | GK | Joel Robles | Real Betis |
| 2 September 2022 | ST | Wilfried Gnonto | FC Zürich |
The signings were mainly done early with Brenden Aaronson, Rasmus Kristensen, Marc Roca, Tyler Adams and Luis Sinisterra coming in with the addition of Darko Gyabi and Sonny Perkins fro the U-23 squad
The midfielders and right back looke dkey, midfield being exposed again and again teh previous season. These were players known to the Head Coach via the Red Bull system, so could fit into the system he wanted to play at Leeds. looked promising and early signs were these were excellent additions.
A back up keeper with some experience was also needed and Joel Robles was signed as well – so far so good, most of this being done early by the 7th July, then nothing just rumors, surely Leeds weren’t done.
Sales and out goings
The sales of Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha were a blow for Leeds but were expected. Raphinha’s contribution in particular was going to be hard to cover but there weer hopes for Sinisterra and spreading the output via other players.
The ongoing saga of would he, wouldn’t he sign for Barcelona was tiresome but he eventually signed and for Leeds less than what Chelsea had offered the club. The player insisting he want to go to Barcelona.
Not the first time that the club would be shown up regarding a transfer
Issues that needed resolved
As most Leeds fans would tell you there were a couple of positions that needed filled. The LB position where Firpo, who had been poor the previous season was a problem, the player had a long term injury and this meant that someone would have to be played out of position. One of the major issues the previous season. Players in the wrong positions.
In midfield it was felt that if any of the new players were injured or suspended the replacements that were already at the club were not nearly at the same level – again an issue from the previous season.
The biggest problem was striker, Rodrigo who has been more miss than hit, had got off to a good start but suffered an unfortunate shoulder injury. Patrick bamford who had so many injuries the previous season was already injured, struggling to gain fitness and there are doubts from the fans about the amount of games he could or would play and that left Joe Gelhardt, a talent but only 20 years old and too much expectation on a young players shoulders.
That was the strike force and surely a problem that needed addressed.
The final day
The final day was something that few Leeds fans could have believed if you told them what was going to happen. A striker was a must, surely the club would come up trumps.
It started with the pursuit of Bamba Dieng from Marseille, a deal had been agreed and he was on his way to Leeds. The chairman triumphantly announced this on social media to a Leeds fan which was picked up by other sources. Then it turned out that Nice had tried to jump in and the player and his agent were on their way there, Leeds had not got the player, who ironically failed a medical at Nice.
At the same time it was said that Leeds were going to offer big money to sign Cody Gakpo from PSV, even flying out to thrash out the deal. That was supposed to be 43 million, only days after the board had said that they didn’t want to take a risk in the transfer market. Ultimately another deal fell through and Leeds wen’t into full panic mode.
On the final day, near the end they did a deal for Wilfried Gnonto of Zurich, an 18 year old striker from Zurich. A talent but a player that 3 weeks earlier the head coach had said if he signed he would go into the U-23 squad, surely not now.
Aftermath
The aftermath was interesting, many Leeds United fans furious with the club. Had they leart the lessons from the previous season, gaps in the squad that still needed fixed, board members patronising fans in program notes and social media usage that bordered on amateurish.
Will the lack of a left back and striker come back to haunt Leeds, well in the recent games the lack of striker has come back to haunt them missing good chances and the LB has resulted in Pascal Struijk, a central defender playing there. This position has also caused issues with the defense looking poor, not because of Struijk but the fact that he is in the wrong position.
A transfer window that started promisingly, petered out and eventually became a disappointment. A common occurrence in the last few seasons.
Will it be rectified in the winter window which tends to be more difficult – history would say no but maybe the board will be forced into action after the summer – a lot will be determined where Leeds finish in the league
