Sam Allardyce slams San Francisco 49ers, now feels 'sad' for Leeds United fans

Sam Allardyce has questioned if San Francisco 49ers are serious about Premier League promotion at Leeds United after selling star players.

Archie Gray and Crysencio Summerville are two of those to have left Elland Road on the back of losing in the play-off final in May.

Glen Kamara is another first-team regular who has been sold, while Joe Rothwell and Jayden Bogle are among those to have come in.

Discussing the Summerville sale to West Ham on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast [9 August, 23m 32s], Allardyce questioned the decision-making.

"It's sad for Leeds because they're selling too many," he said.

"If they want to get back up there, Leeds fans will be wondering if the San Francisco 49ers are right for them if they're selling assets and not getting a team together that's good enough to get promoted."

Leeds United need to make more signings

The 49ers do indeed have Leeds' best interests at heart, but failure to reach the Premier League last season when throwing so much at it has come back to haunt United.

The Whites quite simply could not keep the squad intact given the wages many of them were on, combined with another year without Premier League payments.

The problem is that nobody expected boyhood fan and future superstar Gray to move on this summer.

That switch to Tottenham came as a surprise, but it did at least bring in some much-needed funds for the 49ers.

Summerville's sale was half-expected, even after Gray's departure. However, the club surely could have held out for a bigger upfront fee.

Regardless, the sales have been made and it is surely now a case of strengthening before the transfer window closes.

Leeds remain in the hunt to sign Jonathan Rowe from Norwich City [Sky Sports, 9 August] and also appear to be in for Liverpool's Bobby Clark [Anfield Index, 8 August].

If the club can get those deals over the line, or two of similar quality, then the squad will still be more than capable of challenging for automatic promotion.

Achieve that and there will be absolutely nobody questioning those in charge.

In other Leeds United news, another player may also be on the brink of moving to Elland Road.

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