Leeds United dodged a bullet not signing player fans wanted amid Chris Sutton criticism
Leeds United were criticised over their lack of spending at times throughout the summer transfer window.
Anton Stach already looks to be a fantastic purchase, and Leeds will be hoping Lucas Perri eventually finds his best form when he returns from injury.
Aside from Gabriel Gudmundsson’s own goal against Fulham, he has also looked to be a solid addition.
However, one of the best pieces of business Leeds conducted was purchasing Stach instead of a loan player who was vital to their success last season.
Leeds wise to pass up on Joe Rothwell amid Chris Sutton criticism
Rothwell arrived at Elland Road on loan from Bournemouth last season, with the midfielder ultimately having a bigger role than initially anticipated in United’s promotion.
With injuries to Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev, Rothwell and Ao Tanaka were the midfield pairing for a large spell of the season, with both players being outstanding.
However, despite Rothwell impressing during his loan spell, Leeds ultimately did not make the 30-year-old’s stay in West Yorkshire permanent, with the midfielder ultimately joining Rangers, the other club the 49ers are involved with.
It’s fair to say the move north of the border hasn’t worked out so far for Rothwell, with Rangers failing to win any of their opening five Scottish Premiership matches under new manager Russell Martin.
As of late, Rothwell’s performances have been criticised, with Sutton admitting he has not been the same player since his move to Ibrox.
“Rothwell, a really decent playing career at Leeds, Blackburn. He’s really been affected by expectation, moans and groans. It’s a difficult place to play; the environment is toxic,” Sutton said on BBC’s Monday Night Club on 15 September.
Data suggests Anton Stach a considerable upgrade on Joe Rothwell
Just because a player does well for you on loan does not mean that you should sign him permanently, and despite Rothwell showcasing real quality during his spell at Leeds, the statistics prove that Stach is the superior player.
| Anton Stach | 2025/26 statistics per game | Joe Rothwell |
| 1.8 | Tackles | 1.2 |
| 2.8 | Key passes | 0.8 |
| 2.2 | Clearances | 0 |
| 2.0 | Balls recovered | 3.6 |
| 0.5 | Interceptions | 0.8 |
| 6.0 (57%) | Total duels won | 2.2 (52%) |
| 20.5 (75%) | Accurate passes in opposition half | 18.2 (85%) |
The data suggests that despite the evident gulf in class between the Scottish Premiership and Premier League, Stach has a much greater all-around impact from a defensive standpoint as well as from a creative standpoint.
Rothwell was a good stop-gap option, but there is no doubt United secured a much-needed upgrade ahead of their top-flight return.
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