There was a huge contrast in the transfer window for Leeds United. Taking a look back at it, you could divide the business done into two parts and the latter part is what the fans are currently disappointed with.
At the end of last season, Leeds made it clear that they had planned for the summer window. Daniel Farke was going to work in hand with the recruitment team to secure targets. The start of the summer window saw the Whites add multiple signings in a short space of time including Jaka Bijol, Sebstiaan Bornauw and Gabriel Gudmundsson. Leeds managed to add some depth as well as bolster the midfield and defence, and later added a new goalkeeper.
The latter part of the transfer window is what has had fans frustrated. Daniel Farke asked for attacking reinforcements since the end of pre-season, and the club ended up giving him Noak Okafor and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
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Robbie Evans explains failed Leeds United transfer
Harry Wilson
Credit: Imago Images
With a lot of expectations going into Monday’s deadline, the Whites were expected to bring in at least one attacker according to Farke’s words over the weekend. But after Chelsea swooped in to hijack a deal for Facundo Buonanotter, the club had to shift their targets.
Dilane Bakwa, Bilal El Khannouss and Gus Hamer were considered, but on Monday the club pushed for a move to sign Fulham’s Harry Wilson. After an initial loan bid was pushed back, Leeds presented a permanent deal. Everything was in place, until Fulham pulled the plug near the end. The club ended deadline day without a signing.
Leeds United Managing Director Robbie Evans has sat down with local media to answer some questions about the window. In the interview, he revealed why the move for Harry Wilson failed:
“It’s pretty straightforward in that we had a player targeted, and it didn’t come through. We thought we had the right price. We put the offer in above that price, the player was on board. Club couldn’t get it done. Their club couldn’t get it done. We sent the deal sheet in after being given some indication it could work.”
Fulham juggling their own transfers on deadline day seemed to play a huge part.
“But they were also doing three deals at once, coming in yesterday. So Fulham signed 85 million euros worth of wingers yesterday. And whether it was out of time or they just decided not to sell, we don’t know. But it didn’t happen. Thankfully for us, that’s why we did the overwhelming majority of our business before the last day of the window. So we missed that one, we didn’t get him and it’s kind of that simple.”
