Leeds United have ‘definite problem’ amid January transfer window attempt to sign Calvin Ramsay at Liverpool – Phil Hay
Leeds United have a “definite problem in terms of recruitment” because teams may not want to send players to them on loan this month, according to Phil Hay.
The Athletic journalist told the Square Ball Podcast episode released on 26 January that in their pursuit of Liverpool defender Calvin Ramsay they may face the same issue as when they looked to bring in Fabio Carvalho before he went to Hull City, in that the Reds want loanees to get plenty of game time and it is so hard to get into this Whites team at present.
While Archie Gray has picked up an injury that may open the door at right-back Ramsay, 20, could prove to be out of reach to Leeds United once again this month, with Liverpool already having terminated his loan at Preston North End due to lack of involvement.
Hay said (35m 10s): “You’ll have seen Calvin Ramsay linked at Liverpool. He’s been on Leeds’ radar for a long time, actually going back to the previous regime. He was one of the players that [Victor] Orta scouted when he was at Aberdeen.
“Leeds were pretty close to getting him actually. He would have been an academy signing I think more than anything, an under-21s signing initially, but he was certainly on that borderline of pushing through…
“Leeds know about Ramsay inside out. He was at Preston but didn’t get much in the way of games at Preston so was recalled, and like with Carvalho going to Hull I think that with these players Liverpool are very, very set on them going to places where they are going to be in the team.
“I suppose Gray getting injured, we don’t know how serious that is, creates an issue at right-back, but it is a definite problem in terms of recruitment that if you’re on the outside looking in you’re not quite sure where in this team you’re going to get into it.”
Blessing and curse
Nobody at Elland Road would want the team to be performing so badly that any new arrival would have an instant chance to get into the XI so it is ultimately a good thing that the line-up is so formidable.
But when there clearly is need for more security against injury and suspension in the defensive ranks Leeds United are faced with being an unattractive destination during the current window.
The injury to Gray has highlighted just how thin the numbers are at the back, with Junior Firpo and Sam Byram also regularly unavailable this month, and Pascal Struijk’s return still unclear.
It is starting to look like the decision to send Djed Spence back to Tottenham and freeze Luke Ayling out to the point where he asked for a move to Middlesbrough could end up being short-sighted if adequate replacements aren’t possible before the deadline.
Daniel Farke has created a similar issue with Charlie Cresswell by overlooking him to such a degree, and while no player can be bigger than the manager he has left himself open to being caught short.
If the German is able to land one or two key reinforcements in the next few days he will cover the problem, and perhaps if he is lucky with injuries he will be vindicated all the same, but good luck on the injury front is rare at Leeds United so it will remain a concern unless back up is brought in.
In other Leeds United news, a “change of heart” in the pursuit of another defensive recruit could have a major baring on the same situation.
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