Leeds United were left counting the cost of not making a move early enough on the final day of the transfer window. The club failed to bring in the attacking reinforcements that Daniel Farke made it clear were essential to keep the team in the Premier League this season.
Whether they pay the ultimate price of not doing enough in the window remains to be seen, but the Leeds hierarchy are feeling the pressure at the end of the transfer window. Leeds looked short of ideas in the final third in the first few games, and they did nothing to address that problem on deadline day.
Leeds’ pursuit of Fulham winger Harry Wilson collapsed in the final minutes of the transfer window after the Cottagers changed their mind about selling the player, and the Whites were left empty-handed.
However, the story of the transfer window at Leeds was about the club missing out on wingers, attacking midfielders and strikers throughout the summer as multiple targets snubbed moves to Elland Road.
Can you name these 10 former Leeds United defenders?
Leeds United were forced to change plans after months of analysis were wasted
Leeds made a few sleek moves early in the transfer window and properly strengthened their defence and midfield, including the addition of a new goalkeeper.
However, the club’s efforts to bring in attacking additions didn’t match the level needed, and they were left to constantly change their ideas.
According to the Yorkshire Evening Post’s Graham Smyth, months of analysis work on targets amounted to nothing as attacker after attacker rejected them.
Leeds didn’t move on certain long-term targets due to concerns about the price required to sign them, and a few more targets opted to join clubs with European football or Premier League sides with loftier ambitions.
The Whites also waited too long for Fulham striker Rodrigo Muniz to become available when the Cottagers kept on insisting that he was not for sale.
Fulham did change their minds about selling Harry Wilson towards the end to leave Leeds empty-handed, but the Whites put themselves in a position where another club dictated their transfer business in the final hours of the window.
Leeds need to stay alive until January
Farke’s side looked toothless in the final third at the start of the season, and has not scored from open play in their opening three Premier League games.
Farke made it clear that without attacking reinforcements, Leeds would struggle to remain in the Premier League this season, but his hands are now tied.
His record in the Premier League as a manager is not flattering, but the German now needs to find a way to stay above water until the winter transfer window.
Leeds have looked difficult to beat, apart from their capitulation at Arsenal, and Farke will need to bank on that resolute nature of his team to stay on course until January.
Daniel Farke has been made a scapegoat.
I cannot understand how the 49’s are still getting credit for strengthening the defensive third. Have they really? After all the guff about sorting the aerial threat etc, excluding the keeper (who was seriously average at Arsenal), only Gudmundsson has shifted any of the championship side from their positions. Bijol unable to displace Struijk, whilst Bonauw warms the bench like several other signings. On current evidence, I do not believe that the incomings have made any major upgrade to the starting X1 – with the possible exception of Stach who, in fairness, looks a tidy acquisition. As for the offensive unit (which a blind man could see was the priority issue for the prem, I feel that the 49ers have delivered the worst business of any transfer window they have overseen. They promised so much but were clearly lacking in the one area that they are alleged to excel –… Read more »
When you go shopping you see the thing you want, make sure it is the thing you want and then you buy it, paying the price that is set by the seller or a fee you have managed to negotiate.
If you try to get away with paying too much less or if you dilly-dally, they will sell it to someone else who has the courage of their convictions.
If something isn’t for sale, it either isn’t for sale without a premium being paid or it just isn’t for sale.
Very similar to signing football players except they must also be convinced of your project.
The 49ers need to get their heads round this basic set of facts.
Their lack of backing of Farke and the collective naivety of everyone in charge at Leeds including Farke, has now left us with an even harder task. MOT
49s are all suits no substance from this pathetic end to the transfer window. Farke has not been given the tools to do the job – so this is all on 49s. Farke is not in a position to criticize his employers, his job is going to be hard enough as it is. We cannot bank on beating Burnley home or away (we couldn’t last season) Sunderland are stronger than Leeds now so they are zero pointers. Leeds have become relegation certs all down to incompetent suits yet again.