‘Clever’, ‘Will cost us promotion’ – These Leeds fans split by Orta comments on January window
We were expecting it to be a quiet January for Leeds United.
It was last season, with just Kiko Casilla coming in on a free, although Leeds should also have signed Daniel James from Swansea – that deal fell through on deadline day.
Talking to Italian outlet tuttomercatoweb.com on Thursday, Leeds director of football Victor Orta said fans should expect the same this year.
He said, “We have made a conservative line in the summer, we will do it in winter.
“The new ones need time, in January there are few options… I can say that it will be a quiet market for Leeds. We have information and ideas but I believe little in the winter market. Only 25% of winter shots are successful.”
It’s not what every Leeds fan wanted to hear but, again, it shouldn’t have come as a surprise.
Manager Marcelo Bielsa has a certain way of working and adding new players to the squad midway through a season isn’t near the top of his rulebook.
Some fans get that but others think new players are a must if Leeds want to push on and win promotion, with one saying, “No replacement for Nketiah will cost us.”
The Nketiah situation is interesting. If he does get recalled by Arsenal – and there’s still no suggestion that is what the Gunners are planning to do, despite the fact he still hasn’t started in the league – Leeds will have money and space in the side for an attacker.
That could force their hand but if Nketiah and Ben White stay where they are, it’s entirely possible that Leeds will sign no one.
This is what the Leeds fans make of the situation…
What do we think?
We know how Bielsa works and Leeds would have to find someone pretty remarkable (and affordable) to make a move in January.
Leeds might have to bring in a goalkeeper if Kiko Casilla is banned and we would like to see another striker in if Nketiah goes. If Nketiah and White both stay, we think Leeds have got enough to go up.
In other Leeds United news, ‘They’ve got to leave him at Leeds’ – Barry Fry delivers verdict on Ben White future