The 1-0 defeat at Fulham has raised some serious questions about Leeds United’s transfer recruitment in the summer. The club failed to adequately strengthen the club’s forward line despite insistence all summer that they had funds to bring in a couple of top forwards.
Leeds managing director Robbie Evans claimed after the transfer window closed that the club spent every penny they could to improve the squad, and could not have done any more without breaking the Premier League’s financial rules.
However, Leeds tabled £30m+ bids for Igor Paixao and Rodrigo Muniz, and fans are wondering where all that money went as they only added Dominic Calvert-Lewin, on a free, and Noah Okafor, for £18m, towards the end of the transfer window.
Leeds also spent big on improving their defence and midfield, but given the personnel used, the supporters are now questioning one particular £15m recruit in the summer.
Can you name the team Leeds United signed these players from in the 2000s?
Did Leeds need to complete this £15m transfer in the summer?
Leeds splashed out £15m to sign centre-back Jaka Bijol from Udinese in the summer, but he is yet to play a minute of Premier League football this season.
The 26-year-old was seen as an upgrade on the current centre-backs, but a suspension meant that he missed the opening game against Everton.
Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk have done nothing wrong to drop out of the team, and Bijol has been left waiting for his turn under a coach like Daniel Farke, who rarely changes his centre-backs.
The Slovenian defender’s performance during the international break didn’t fill anyone with confidence, but it is hard to judge him, given that he has yet to receive a proper chance.
However, questions must be asked of sporting director Adam Underwood and his recruitment team’s decision-making, given Leeds have two top centre-backs in Rodon and Struijk.
Leeds also signed Sebastiaan Bornauw, but he was always seen as a cover for the defenders. However, Bijol was seen as a starting eleven player when he arrived.
Leeds could have done with at least one more forward
Bijol may still turn out to be a top player for Leeds, but for now, he seems like a waste of money in a summer when the club needed more teeth in their attack.
It is not a reflection on the Slovenian’s ability, but questions should be asked whether Leeds need an extra centre-back when they look short in attack.
£15m could have brought in one more forward for the Leeds squad, or a top striker on loan. Yet, Leeds decided to spend it on a centre-back, who is not even coming on from the bench in Premier League games.
This one decision could come back to haunt Underwood and the rest of the recruitment team.
From the start it was obvious Adam Underwood and the recruitment team were not ambitious enough as their targets were snapped up by others as Adam and team waited too long. They were trying to get their targets for under 20 million and bargain hunting. One target after another were lost and yet Adam and team never learn. It was transparent for all to see that Adam and team were not experience enough in the transfer market.
The recruitment team got it wrong, full stop. The squad needed an upgrade, but instead of bench fillers we needed a creative number 10 and a goal scorer. Even a Sunday league mentality could have figured this out. Farke could not have been clearer spelling it out but he was ignored. Underwood and Arrogant Evans should gone on the pitch after we lost at Fulham and admitted they screwed up. The team and Farke deserved a draw at Fulham, they experienced bad luck but had the recruitment team done a better job we would probably have won the game.
It’ll be step up Harry Gray soon enough…
This site continually peddles inflammatory guff. You want us to bring CBs on as subs? Would you like struijk to roll over and give up his place?
Bijol is an improvement to the squad.
Saliba and Gabriel weren’t available.
Stop being daft for clicks. It’s boring.