Leeds United unlikely to do much in January as Phil Hay details free agent stance
Leeds United are not expected to do much business in the January transfer window unless “the season is on edge”, according to Phil Hay.
Marcelo Bielsa has seen his side win just one of their first nine Premier League matches this season and they currently sit just one place above the relegation zone.
Bielsa has regularly avoided doing transfer business in January but the Argentine has dipped his toes into the mid-season market at times, bringing in Kiko Casilla and Jean-Kevin Augustin, for example.
Hay feels that new faces may be brought in but doesn’t see much happening as he shared an update on The Athletic website.
He said: “If the season is in okay shape then I’d expect them to do very little in January. But if the season is on edge, it would be a mistake to disregard that window. It’s your chance to get a shot in the arm.”
Hay also ruled out the possibility of signing free agents.
“With regards to free agents, it doesn’t really fit with Bielsa’s idea of targeting specific skill sets. The recruitment tends to be much more detailed rather than opportunistic,” The Athletic journalist added.
Don’t expect much
Leeds’ January business has not only been limited during Bielsa’s time at Elland Road but it’s also been poor.
While Casilla was an upgrade on Bailey Peacock-Farrell when he came in, the Spanish goalkeeper ended up being an absolute liability for the club in more ways than one.
We all know what happened with Augustin and the club could still end up paying the cost of his failed loan spell at Elland Road.
Mateusz Bogusz, Elia Caprile and Ian Poveda have also joined the Whites in January while Bielsa has been in charge but all of them were youth additions and only Poveda, who’s now out on loan, has broken into the senior squad regularly.
If we do make a new signing or two in January, history has shown that they’re more than likely going to be youth additions.
And if we do sign a first-team player, we might have to wait a while for them to get up to speed with Bielsa’s system and also match the manager’s fitness demands.
That is why he’s usually avoided doing business in January. His only outfield signing for the first-team has been Augustin and obviously he was nowhere near ready in terms of fitness.
Leeds do need players in several positions but we don’t see anyone major coming in during January.
In other Leeds United news, this midfielder could be at the end of the line for Bielsa at Elland Road.