Leeds United have had a decent start to the season even though they recently succumbed to their first defeat in the Championship. The club made some impressive moves in the transfer window, but they also lost two crucial players in Pontus Jansson and Kemar Roofe.
The Whites also agreed on a £10m deal for Jack Clarke who was sent immediately back on loan. In terms of incomings, Helder Costa is a significant addition, and he will become a permanent player for the Whites next season. Ben White and Eddie Nketiah have joined on loan.
Club’s CEO on how funds are being utilised
Club’s CEO Angus Kinnear recently indicated that the funds generated from Jansson’s and Roofe’s sale would not be used to bring in new faces. He said (BBC), ”The biggest thing to understand is how much the wage bill has grown under Andrea’s tenure. The wage bill when he took over was for a mid-table team, and there was a correlation with how much you spend on the wage bill and where you finish.”
“The type of players that can get us promoted are more expensive, so our wage bill has grown significantly. Some of the player sales money goes into supporting that wage bill and maintaining the integrity of the squad.”
The Whites reportedly earned £5.5m from Jansson and £7m for Roofe. With Clarke, Aapo Halme and Bailey-Peacock Farrell also moving away, it was a good window for the club in terms of generating revenue from player sales.
What now for Leeds United?
The club’s inability to bring in permanent new faces might disappoint the fans but they have done well to bring in talented players on loan. Moreover, we have seen that this approach has worked well for the likes of Wolves and Aston Villa in the last two seasons.
One also needs to remember that because of these player sales, United are currently in contention to tie down a talent like Kalvin Phillips on an improved long term contract. The midfielder drew plenty of interest in the summer, but the Whites were able to keep him at Elland Road, and new contract talks are ongoing.
The Whites found a way to replace the likes of Jansson and Roofe by bringing in temporary options. The fans might be slightly disappointed, but the board also needs to look at the bigger picture while running the club. United might have a somewhat thin squad, but most of them have transformed into quality players under Bielsa. Honestly, the team looks a well-knit unit. With this piece of news, one can expect the Yorkshire outfit to make not many significant transfers in January.
