Leeds United urgency questioned as premium prices expected to seal transfers before August 30
David Norris has criticised a lack of urgency at Leeds United in the transfer window and thinks they will have to pay premium prices to land more permanent signings before August 30.
After signing Largie Ramazani late this week in a deal worth up to £10million from Almeria, Leeds have now secured four permanent summer arrivals plus Joe Rothwell on loan, altogether costing around £25m once add-ons are considered.
By contrast, the club’s sales have brought in over £130m [Transfermarkt] – a portion of which was necessary to allay any immediate PSR concerns – but ex-Whites man Norris believes not enough has been done to bring players to Elland Road with the pull the club still possesses.
“Leeds have made some big sales, and they should have plenty of money now there to spend – they’re going to have to go and pay maybe over the odds for a couple,” he exclusively told MOT Leeds News.
“I just don’t sense enough urgency, really. They can’t really afford to lose anymore from the squad either, if they’re not reinvesting enough.
“It doesn’t look as if the club are reinvesting the sale money enough on permanent signings, it’s a big club and players want to play for them, so we’ll see what happens in the last few days.”
Leeds United face important week in the window
For some clubs, the final days of the window bring a luxury of a brief scan of the market to see if anyone worthwhile becomes available for an easy deal, or often loaning out a fringe player or two once the squad is settled.
At Elland Road, it’s a lot bigger than that. Daniel Farke remains with just 20 first-team players at his disposal with nine months, 43 league games and the FA Cup still to go.
Whilst a positive turnover to come out of this summer was important for the club – no one is saying they’re going to spend over £50m to bring a supreme talent to the Championship – there looks to be a reluctance to pay over the odds for players.
That simply has to be the case, as the Whites will have wanted far more than five through the door at this point, a maximum of three of whom would appear to be regular starters – although Manor Solomon is very soon to arrive on loan from Tottenham and make it six [Shay Lugassi, 24 August].
Albeit add in that Brenden Aaronson and Max Wober remain in the squad after returning from loans last season, Farke has still seen 19 players head for the exit since the end of 2023-24.
It’s well documented that the club have missed out on some of their top targets and may now have to bite the bullet to secure a few more in the final days of the market.
In other Leeds news, a potential international call-up for an out-of-favour player.
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