(Credit: Imago)

49ers pull off remarkable transfer trick amid latest Leeds United exit news

Niall is a lifelong Leeds United supporter who began reporting on MOT Leeds News in July 2025 after initially joining Breaking Media a month earlier. He graduated from Leeds Beckett University with a first class degree in Sports Journalism in 2024 and has covered Leeds for multiple other websites. After attending Elland Road for the first time as a youngster with United in League One, Niall hopes to see Leeds reclaim their spot in the Champions League and get back to competing for the Premier League.

Published on:

26 Aug 2025, 3:40 pm

Leeds United have already welcomed 10 new signings to Elland Road so far this summer.

James Justin is the most recent arrival, taking Leeds' spending to over £100million so far in the transfer window.

Despite this, more fresh faces are evidently needed, with Daniel Farke reportedly wanting two more attackers to bolster his forward line.

In order to help facilitate these arrivals, Leeds can sell more dead wood, with plenty of players on their books not having a future at Elland Road.

Farke has already welcomed numerous new faces to West Yorkshire this summer (Credit: Imago)

49ers pull of a masterstroke after receiving sizeable fee

Patrick Bamford is one of the players still under contract who does not have a future in West Yorkshire, with United finding it hard to identify a potential suitor for the former England international.

Leeds have not had this issue with Sam Greenwood, as the Whites were able to sell the 23-year-old to Polish outfit Pogon for a fee of around £3.5million.

Whilst it may not seem like a lot on paper, to put it into perspective, Leeds signed Ao Tanaka for just £2.95million last summer, and the Japanese midfielder has become one of Leeds' most impressive players.

Tanaka thrived on his Premier League debut against Everton, proving he can make the step up from the Championship
The 26-year-old completed 42 out of his 46 passes during the game, whilst covering a whopping 10.8kilometres

To sign a player of Tanaka's calibre for around £500,000 less than Greenwood has been sold for is an expert piece of business from the 49ers, and hopefully that money will be reinvested in the squad elsewhere.

Read more: 49ers could put spanner in works as Largie Ramazani's Leeds United exit takes another twist

The sale of Greenwood further puts into perspective how much of a bargain Tanaka was (Credit: Imago)

Leeds should sell Championship regular if it facilitates more signings

With deadline day rapidly approaching, it is clear from Leeds' opening two Premier League fixtures that another striker is needed at Elland Road.

Lukas Nmecha and Dominic Calvert-Lewin have already been brought in on free transfers, but a big marquee signing is needed.

At this stage of the window, it is unlikely, but if Leeds want to go all out on a new number nine, they should consider selling Joel Piroe to free up even more funds to spend big on a new goalscorer.

Piroe cannot handle the physicality of the top flight, and whilst his finishing abilities are arguably the best at the club, he goes missing for far too long in games for it to matter.

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Sam Greenwood

Ao Tanaka