Leeds United in active pursuit of multiple new signings after series of Elland Road exits
Leeds United are now “actively” looking to acquire reinforcements in multiple positions after doing a series of exit deals, according to the Yorkshire Evening Post.
Joe Donnohue reported via the outlet’s website on 8 July, in the wake of Charlie Cresswell’s sale to Toulouse going through, the Whites are now seeking to add new signings at “a number of key positions”.
The focus comes after “offloading several fringe players” during the transfer window so far, with Cresswell following the likes of Marc Roca, Jamie Shackleton and Kristoffer Klaesson in making permanent exits, while Darko Gyabi, Sonny Perkins and Sam Greenwood have all left on loan.
Leeds United have also made the headline sale of Archie Gray to Tottenham, with only Joe Rodon signed in the opposite direction as a major factor in the first team, and Alex Cairns now confirmed as the reserve goalkeeper.
Daniel Farke needs to add to Joe Rodon signing at Leeds United
It’s impossible to argue that the Whites squad isn’t currently weaker than it was when the season ended with a dispiriting Play Off final loss to Southampton.
The deal to bring in Rodon is potentially vital but only prevents the playing staff regressing further since he was already a key man on loan last term.
Losing homegrown star Gray is a blow whichever way it is dressed up, and while the likes of Roca leaving, along with the imminent exit of Diego Llorente, is hardly comparable there has been very little for fans to cheer so far this summer.
Cresswell departing ends a disappointing year-long struggle where the youngster butted heads with Farke, while club captain Liam Cooper is set to leave as well [TEAMtalk, 3 July].
Failure to secure Premier League promotion has left Leeds vulnerable to further high-profile exits, with Crysencio Summerville [Fabrizio Romano, 17 June] and Glen Kamara [Ouest France, 5 July] among other players being targeted.
So another central defender will surely be needed, while reinforcements at full-back are likely necessary due to the injury record of Sam Byram and Junior Firpo, with the latter’s future uncertain anyway.
A forward may be required since either Patrick Bamford or Joel Piroe could follow [Daily Mail, 1 July], while Jaidon Anthony’s loan ending and both Summerville and Willy Gnonto both possible sales [Graham Smyth, 14 June] will mean the wide options are sparse.
Lose another central midfielder on top of Gray and that will also require addressing, so there is little time to lose for Farke and his recruitment department to fill in the gaps for another push for promotion.
In other Leeds United news, the exit of another senior man is said to be the “most interesting” situation of the summer now at Elland Road.
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