Leeds United managing director Robbie Evans has lifted the lid on one of the biggest decisions the club made in the summer transfer window that left fans baffled.
The Whites signed seven new players to improve a squad that finished 14th in the Premier League table and comfortably avoided relegation from the top flight.
James Trafford is a massive upgrade on the goalkeeping options Leeds had last season, and Tarik Muharemovic seems to be the real deal in defence.
However, Leeds’ decision to avoid signing a striker and going with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha as their only two central strikers in the squad was baffling for many.
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Robbie Evans explains major Leeds United transfer decision
Leeds United managing director Robbie Evans has admitted that the club had no desire to sign a striker who was going to compete with Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s spot in the team.
He stressed that Leeds were only considering backup options and it was hard to find the right player who was the perfect fit for the squad and the role.
Evans told The Athletic: “There was no desire at all this summer to find a striker who was going to compete with or take over Dominic (Calvert-Lewin)’s spot.
“It was not a No 1 striker summer for us. It would have been a supporting role only, and supporting roles are quite hard to fill because you have to have this Venn diagram: overlapping circles of the right character, the right squad fit, the right price, and be content to be a backup.
“If someone comes in thinking they’re going to start and they’re not, they’re going to be a problem in the dressing room. The number of players who are good enough to play in the league, willing to fight for their spot or be a backup, and fit our long-term profile financially is a very, very small list.
“Even some of the names I’d seen circulating around were players who would not want that role. We’re not going to pursue them to come and be unhappy on day one.
“I won’t comment on what other teams have done, but in general, whether it’s the left-back role, the supporting winger role, or it’s the striker role, those are always tricky, and so that’s why they held open longer. In the end, we have a pretty good solution with our current squad.”
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Leeds have taken a huge gamble
Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored 14 goals in the Premier League last season and played a major role in helping them survive in the top flight.
He has also started the new season in fine fashion, but while Leeds have done well to keep him fit, question marks remain because of his injury record.
Leeds do not have another goalscorer of his pedigree in the squad, and they could be one major injury away from being seriously toothless upfront.
The club may not have wanted to sign a striker who is good enought to compete for the top spot as they trust Calvert-Lewin, but this is a gamble and strategies do not work on the basis of hope.
Of course the type of support striker (number ten) who is quick and dynamic is the ideal acquisition but that kind of player is unavailable and unaffordable. If we overspend the outcome is disastrous and the formation has to be new and experimental. Unfortunately the one who is suited to the role is short of quality – Aaronson.
Its not what you have its what you haven’t, short still in a few positions, and its really showing already!
Look at the alternative if Lewin injured, after the game I could have sworn Nmecha had a Chelsea kit on, he gave the ball more to them than Leeds!
Dominic is a very good all round finisher and just as importantly has become one of the Leeds United family.
What a total load of boll*cks Evans is talking to try and justify the self defeating tightfistedness we display every single window when we’ve just shipped six goals against Chelsea having had enough chances to beat them by a much bigger score line if we’d had a striker! We need FOUR strikers like any team with hopes of actually winning some games. Two that directly compete and two younger options. It’s not too much, it’s called a squad!
We dont want a striker as a back up for lewin you moron
We want another improvement!!!!!!!!
Any excuse not to spend
To those who advocate massive spending could they please elucidate and analyse the SCR limits that must be met or financial penalties may be imposed to the ultimate ruin of our club. £200 million has been spent in the last two years and there is a declaration to spend more when circumstances and player availability allow.
It is what is is.
You can argue ’till the cows come home but it changes nothing.
Support those on the pitch and forget those that are still in never, never land. In other words we are the 12th man so we are that striker.