Leeds United sporting director Adam Underwood and his recruitment team are preparing for a busy final week of the transfer window. Daniel Farke still wants more players to get added to their squad, and the club are also working on a few key departures before the September 1st transfer deadline.
The Whites have brought in nine new players to bolster the squad that won the Championship last season, but the number of signings is expected to cross the double-figure mark before the end of the transfer window next Monday night.
Leeds are aware that there are still gaps in their squad that need to be plugged, and the club are working on several deals as they look to meet Daniel Farke’s demands for a few more signings before the window closes in the next week.
The Yorkshire giants are in the market to add more defensive and attacking depth, but the club have one eye on departures as well, and are aware that they will need a few of those to balance the squad and the wage bill for the season.
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James Justin’s arrival will lead to the departure of Isaac Schmidt
Leeds are in the process of finalising the arrival of defender James Justin from Leicester City this week. The two clubs have worked out an agreement for a fee of £10m, and the defender was in for a medical on Sunday evening.
The 27-year-old will add more depth and options to the defensive unit because of his ability to play in both full-back positions as well as a centre-back.
However, according to The Athletic, Justin’s arrival is almost certain to trigger the exit of Isaac Schmidt before the September 1st transfer deadline.
The Swiss international was a major part of Leeds’ pre-season preparation, but has been keen to move on from the club to play more football.
He has had an agreement in place with Werder Bremen for weeks, but Leeds have been waiting to sign a defender before sanctioning his departure.
Justin’s arrival will lead to Schmidt’s exit, and he is likely to join Werder Bremen on loan with an option to buy.
Ahead of next year’s World Cup, he wants to play more football to break into Switzerland’s squad ahead of the tournament.
Schmidt never really got a chance at Leeds
Leeds signed the defender towards the end of the summer transfer window last year, but he rarely played for the club last season.
A left-back by trade, the few times he played for Leeds were as a right-back, and he was used in the same position during pre-season.
Farke never really gave him a chance to stake a claim for a spot in the team, and his departure will not come as a surprise to anyone.
He will be hoping to get more of an opportunity to prove himself at Werder Bremen if he is to join them in the coming days.
