Leeds United have ‘same problem’ as Southampton and Leicester City in transfer window – BBC pundit
Leeds United have the same problem as both of their relegated rivals in not knowing who will be here past the end of the transfer window, according to Carlton Palmer.
Max Wober is the latest Whites player to suddenly up sticks and head out for a loan deal to Borussia Monchengladbach, that could end up being permanent [Phil Hay, 24 July].
Daniel Farke has so far only had one signing in with Ethan Ampadu’s arrival from Chelsea, and will have to contend with more players possibly leaving before deadline day, but Palmer says both the Saints and the Foxes are in the same boat.
BBC pundit Palmer told Football League World (24 July): “I predict that Southampton will be in the play-offs. They have appointed a very good manager in Russell Martin, they have a very solid squad.
“They have the same problem as Leeds and Leicester, until the transfer window shuts, they don’t know which players they will be able to work with entering into the new season.”
Unstable
Much of the focus for the final weeks of the window seemed destined to point towards attacking options such as Willy Gnonto and Jack Harrison, and USMNT midfielder Tyler Adams.
Wober’s place appeared assured until he was suddenly missing from the Saturday friendly with Monaco (22 July), and while not every player has a relegation release clause that allows them to suddenly depart it will still be tricky to keep any in the face of a significant offer from a top flight league.
In that context whatever new arrivals can be wrapped up will be even more crucial, given that they are far less likely to immediately be bought by somebody else.
Ampadu was a good start but he can’t do everything on his own, and even if he is used as a defender to fill Wober’s gap that would still leave a gaping hole in central midfield where Adam Forshaw, Marc Roca and Weston McKennie have already left.
Adams is also injured so new midfielders look like an absolute priority, but with question marks over the Elland Road futures of Junior Firpo, Illan Meslier, and Patrick Bamford, there is the potential for just about any position to suddenly become a major need.
Leicester have already signed Conor Coady and Harry Winks, while Southampton have brought in Shea Charles and Whites-linked Ryan Manning, so both are ahead of Leeds with their business.
It was always going to be a summer of upheaval after relegation, but the takeover and the key appointments have taken a lot of time and it has left the club in an uncertain situation heading into the new campaign.
In other Leeds United news, a £15m fee is what it will take for the Whites to land a proven Championship goalscorer who is on the move.