Ian Harte slams Leeds player over potential to let team down, makes transfer window claim
Ian Harte has claimed that Leeds United will have to invest in an almost-completely new squad in the summer transfer window if they win promotion to the Premier League.
As it stands, no one can say for sure when the current season will end and when next season will start but one thing is for sure – the Whites deserve to win automatic promotion from the Championship.
If that happens then ex-Leeds defender Harte is expecting his former club to ring the changes when the transfer window opens as they prepare for life back in the top-flight.
One player that Harte has suggested might not be at Elland Road if they go up is defender Gaetano Berardi.
The 31-year-old’s contract is due to expire at the end of June and Harte hasn’t seen enough from him to suggest he would fare well in the Premier League.
“When he’s played he’s done well but there’s always those moments in games where he’s a bit rash and jumps in, gives away fouls for free-kicks or penalties and he’s one of those players that you’re always going to worry about if he is going to let you down,” Harte told Football League World.
“You might be winning the game 1-0 and then he gives something silly away and they’ll score.
“In terms of a player stepping up to the Premier League, if Leeds do get promoted with the current squad they’re going to need to make changes.
“You look at the squad and you think ‘who is good enough to play in the Premier League?’
“There are plenty of good players but you need exceptional nowadays to play there so they’ll need to bring in not far off a whole new team, to be honest.”
Harte may think that Leeds need to overhaul their squad in the summer but that is unlikely to happen with Marcelo Bielsa barely changing anything since his arrival at Elland Road.
While the Argentine has brought in a few of his own players, he is very much a fan of consistency and you would imagine that he’d have faith in the squad he has to perform well in the Premier League.
Sheffield United barely changed anything in the summer and look at how well they’re doing in the Premier League while Aston Villa have spent over £100million and occupy the relegation zone.
In other Leeds United news, Manchester City want Leeds to sign this defender on loan from them in the summer.