Leeds United ‘can move’ in transfer market as Max Wober the latest in ‘mass exodus’ from Elland Road
Leeds United “can move” now for incoming transfers after experiencing a “mass exodus” from Elland Road, according to Ben Jacobs.
With Rodrigo sold to Al-Rayyan in Qatar and a growing list of first-team players taking advantage of loan release clauses in their contracts after relegation the Whites squad has been significantly thinned out.
Ethan Ampadu is one much-needed new arrival brought in from Chelsea but there appears to be various questions still to answer and more popping up as new players leave, with Max Wober the latest as he heads to Borussia Monchengladbach on another loan [The Athletic, 23 July].
Every departure is another option unavailable to Daniel Farke, although some will be less of a blow than others, but is also a drain gone from the wage bill, and Jacobs believes the club have now been freed up to bring bodies in.
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the CBS journalist said: “Yeah, I think Leeds can move now. And obviously, they’ve had a bit of a mass exodus through a mixture of sales and loans, and now they need to build a squad capable of promotion to the Premier League.”
Refill
With transfer links to virtually every half-decent player at Elland Road it is going to be impossible for Farke and his staff to guarantee any of the players they are currently training will be there on 2 September, apart from those they sign.
Returning loanees such as Cody Drameh, Charlie Cresswell, Joe Gelhardt and Dan James should be able to slot back in, but with transfer interest and exit plans mooted for the former pair even that isn’t certain.
Some gaps can also be filled by graduating academy stars, with Darko Gyabi and Mateo Joseph potentially in line to step up, but relying on youngsters to carry a promotion campaign would be a gamble.
Illan Meslier is expected to leave, the back line has been a calamity for most of the past two years, the majority of last season’s midfield has left, and Patrick Bamford is somehow still the only senior striker at the club.
Rodrigo and Wober will be the two biggest losses so far and will absolutely need replacing one way or another, while a keeper is being sourced amid an unsuccessful pursuit of Alex Nubel from Bayern Munich, and a likely failure to land Karl Darlow from Newcastle [Northern Echo, 20 July].
The key recruitment figures of manager Daniel Farke, technical director Gretar Steinsson and advisor Nick Hammond need to move quickly and decisively to answer the question marks at various positions and fill the gaps left by the large-scale departures.
Business is bound to go right up to deadline day due to the late nature of it getting under way, so it is now a race against time to equip the squad for a promotion tilt.
In other Leeds United news, Phil Hay believes Farke would “love” to sign a Tottenham player this summer if he is available.