Leeds United have done well to bounce back especially after losing the Championship playoff final last summer. Daniel Farke’s men sealed Premier League promotion this season with two games to go.
It is a stunning turnaround after the events of last summer. Before the season began, there was a number of exits from Elland Road. Most players decided to leave the club after missing out on Premier League football. Just weeks till the transfer deadline, Daniel Farke publicly called for reinforcements. Leeds got to work and brought some signings before the deadline.
But they missed out on some targets. Farke was a big fan of adding an all round number 10 with creativity. Leeds decided to try and make a move for Sheffield United star Gustavo Hamer. But the Blades rejected the bids, saying the Whites were way off with their valuation. Leeds backed off, and Farke had to go with Brenden Aaronson for the rest of the season. Luckily, it all worked out.
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Gus Hamer opens up on Leeds United saga
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Hamer, who recently won EFL Championship player of the season, has opened up on the events of last summer. The 27-year old insists that he had no plans of leaving Sheffield United, despite Leeds making a bid. He was speaking at The Star Football Awards:
“I knew how the club was, I knew how the fans were, and I really enjoyed the six months I had with the manager in the Premier League,”
“We had words just in pre-season, and we looked ourselves in the eyes and we said we can do this this season.
The midfielder then refers to rumours of a Leeds United move as ”sounds” made by the media.
“Of course, there were some sounds, but that was, I think, more to make some chaos in the media personally. So we looked at each other, we shook hands, and we said let’s do it this season, and if there was anything I needed from my manager throughout the season. I think that brought us there for all with the confidence that the gaffer gives out to us.”
Sheffield United are set to finish in third place, and will compete in the play-offs.
Leeds should have signed Hamer
Some Leeds fans would argue that since their team qualified, they did not need Gus Hamer. But the numbers speak for themselves, nine goals and seven assists this season.
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He was arguably the best attacking midfielder in the division. In contrast, Brenden Aaronson was the only Leeds midfielder to have more than 10 goal involvements this season. If the Blades miss out on promotion, Gus Hamer should definitely be a midfield target this summer.
