By Dave Woods

9th Oct, 2019 | 4:51pm

Victor Orta responds when asked if Leeds are planning any big Jan transfers

Victor Orta has said he is working on the January transfer window for Leeds but added that it’s a difficult time to bring players into the club. 

Orta also said that the club had decided that looking to loans was a good policy in the current transfer climate.

Talking on the Training Ground Guru podcast, Orta was asked if he was working on January transfers already.

“Yes. You’re always working,” Orta said. “January is not my favourite period as the availability of players is half the problem.

Asked if Leeds were planning any big transfers, Orta replied, “It’s difficult to predict but I don’t believe a lot in the winter market, it’s not easy.”

Leeds did bring in one high profile player last January, bagging Kiko Casilla on a free transfer from Real Madrid.

They also signed Mateusz Bogusz from Polish side Ruch Chorzow but he’s mainly featured for the Under-23s, with one senior outing in the EFL Cup.

Leeds relied on loan signings in the summer with Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal), Helder Costa (Wolves), Jack Harrison (Man City), Ben White (Brighton) and Jack Clarke (Tottenham) all arriving. Costa came with an obligation to buy and will become a permanent signing next summer.

Asked about loans Orta said, “Teams without parachute payments, it’s hard to go to battle with other teams. We decide a good policy is loan players and less permanent deals. We can approach permanent deals but we don’t want to take the risk. We want to improve the squad and we did that with loans without significant investment.”

This policy worked for Aston Villa last season, with Tammy Abraham and Tyrone Mings helping Dean Smith’s side into the Premier League.

Leeds are hoping for the same to happen to them this season.

In other Leeds news, ‘What a player’ – These Leeds fans hail ‘class’ player despite 2-1 defeat v Millwall