Leeds United managing director Robbie Evans has been speaking to the media about the club’s transfer window. The club chief also spoke about key issues and targets the club missed out on.
Evans spoke about what happened in the pursuit of Shea Charles.
Leeds wanted to sign the Southampton midfielder, but would not budge at the valuation. After three bids, they left their offer on the table, and Charles eventually joined Fulham.
The Whites also missed out on signing Julian Brandt, a player they had high on their list.
Daniel Farke did get reinforcements for the first team as the 49ers got deals for James Trafford, Nico Elvedi, Tarik Muharemovic and Harry Wilson over the line.
Robbie Evans explains why Leeds United missed out on signing a striker
Leeds United
Credit: Imago
One of the most discussed topics about Leeds United’s transfer window is the club failing to land a striker.
The Whites loaned out Joel Piroe who played some rotation minutes last year. Joe Gelhardt was also sold this summer, leaving the club short in the centre forward department.
Leeds managing director Robbie Evans explained that the club had no plans of signing a striker to compete with Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
”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.” he told The Athletic.
Evans said that any striker would have had to accept a backup role, and that the 49ers were okay with the end result.
”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.”
”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.”
READ MORE: Leeds chief makes blunt admission over Shea Charles transfer pursuit: ”it felt like…”
Move could come back to haunt 49ers
Going into this season with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha as the only striking options is a big risk.
Both players have history of being injury prone; but the club managed to handle them well last season. And some of it was down to having Joel Piroe come off the bench and play cup games.
Now that Piroe is gone, the two will have to play more than they did last year.
If the medical team can do a great job and keep Calvert-Lewin and Nmecha upright for another year, it would be great. But any injury this season leaves the club with just one senior option.
