George Overhill

Wed 26 July 2023 21:10, UK

Leeds United have appointed Gary Penrice to the Elland Road recruitment staff on a “short term deal”, the Daily Mail reports.

The 59-year-old is reunited with Nick Hammond whom he worked with at Celtic, as well as with West Brom previously.

Both are currently only employed by the Whites on short deals, with Gretar Steinsson also brought in as the new permanent technical director to help replace Victor Orta, and manager Daniel Farke taking a greater involvement in recruitment than his recent predecessors.

The Whites are struggling with a precarious situation as the transfer window creeps under five weeks remaining, as Max Wober has become the most recent loan departure that hasn’t boosted the transfer budget, and only Ethan Ampadu signed from Chelsea so far.

Extensive further business is planned, with some expected to be enforced by more significant exits, so it looks like all hands on deck for with Steinsson, Hammond, and now former Everton, Stoke City and QPR man Penrice on the staff.

Tony Pulis, who hired Penrice as chief European scout at Stoke was full of praise ahead of his appointment as chief scout at Parkhead, telling The Athletic: “Gary has great experience both home and abroad, with a huge network of contacts. “Celtic would be appointing a very able man, it would be an excellent appointment.”

Crucial

Leeds United seem to be doing everything they can in terms of putting together a framework that can help get results, but time is running out for them to have the desired effect while it matters.

The release clauses that are present in most of the first team squad’s contracts have left the Whites open to losing potentially key men at the drop of a hat like Wober.

And as a result it is impossible to bank on any still at Elland Road with such clauses definitively staying should an attractive option open up for them before deadline day.

Minimal loan fees coming in rather than substantial transfer money has made spending harder, so it may be necessary to accept a large offer for a star man if one comes in still.

Karl Darlow is imminent to answer the keeper question, but defence, striker and central midfield still have questions marks attached, and if more men leave the to-do list will only grow.

So fans will be hoping that Penrice can team with the current figures to speed up the process of getting vital signings in.

In other Leeds United news, the Whites’ desired “marquee signing” this summer is currently ignoring a contract offer at his current club amid transfer interest.