Leicester City refused Leeds United twice over Luke Thomas loan deal before Sheffield United move – Phil Hay
Leicester City “were not about to lend” Luke Thomas to a potential promotion rival in Leeds United this summer, according to Phil Hay.
The Athletic journalist shared on the outlet’s website on 6 September that the Whites made two approaches to their Championship counterparts for the left-back during the window but the Foxes weren’t willing to strengthen a club they were likely in direct competition with.
Daniel Farke ultimately ended up without reinforcements at the position despite Junior Firpo and Sam Byram both being out injured.
Thomas, 22, instead made a temporary move back to the Premier League with Sheffield United, who also signed Gustavo Hamer earlier in the window, with the Brazilian also thought to be a major Whites target at the time.
No surprise
It is fairly logical that Leicester wouldn’t want to cater to the needs of Leeds United, especially without a significant financial reason to do so, and the same would likely have been the same in reverse.
So in that context it may beg the question as to why Thomas appeared to be the one target they held out hope for heading towards deadline day.
It is not a new phenomenon for this club to neglect the left-back spot but, after finally securing the striker the squad was crying out for amid Patrick Bamford’s injuries in Joel Piroe, it would have been another big tick for the new regime to find an answer in defence as well.
Byram has been good when fit, and Firpo perhaps deserves an opportunity to show what he can do in the Championship, while Jamie Shackleton has done a strong job in relief.
But the former duo are so often injured, and in the biggest games the converted midfielder might not be defensively up to scratch.
So it is odd that Farke showed so much more interest in strengthening at right-back when he had Luke Ayling and Cody Drameh, who had proven his Championship credentials in the previous two campaigns.
Max Aarons was a favourite of the German, and Djed Spence looks like he could be an excellent pick-up from Tottenham, but it might have made more sense to keep Drameh at the club and focus on help on the left.
In other Leeds United news, a player’s agent has celebrated winning the “fight” to get his client out of the club this summer.