Leeds United have had a huge overhaul over the summer of 2017. They departed ways with manager Garry Monk and brought in Thomas Christiansen. They also brought in an abundance of new players, 16 in total. Leeds United also said goodbye to last season’s top goal scorer Chris Wood.
Despite losing their top goal scorer over the summer, the Whites have had a solid start to the season. They have lost their last two league games. But they do find themselves in 5th place and just four points off the top. But which signings have propelled them into this spot and which are dragging them down? Here are Leeds United’s summer signings ratings on their season so far.
Pontus Jansson: 8.5/10
Jansson was at Leeds United last season on loan. However, his transfer was made permanent over this past window. So far this season, he has been a rock at the back for Leeds in the majority of games. Jansson missed the first game of the season through suspension and Leeds conceded two goals. Jansson then returned to the starting XI and helped the club keep six clean sheets in a row.
They have not fared so well in their last three games conceding two, three and three. But Jansson has still been excellent at the back for Leeds. The decision to make his transfer permanent was certainly a good one.
Samu Saiz: 8/10
Saiz was bought by Leeds for just over £2 mill. A very tidy fee for a player such as Saiz. He is quick on the ball and is an excellent attacking midfielder.
So far for Leeds United, he has played 11 games, scored six and assisted two. This is an excellent return from a secondary striker and would suggest Saiz has been a decent buy. One thing Leeds United fans may prefer though is for Saiz to start scoring more in the Championship. He has netted just twice in nine games in the league. His other four goals coming in two League Cup games. Either way, he is still contributing well to the team and has been a great buy.
Ezgjan Alioski: 6/10
Alioski is a transfer that many Leeds fans are split on. Some believe he has been overhyped and others believe he is still adjusting to life in England. However, after making 13 appearances for Leeds, his performances have not been great.
One of his worst performance was against Preston North End earlier in the season. He has also scored just once in those 13 games which isn’t great for a left midfielder. He also hasn’t contributed in any way in the Yorkshire club’s last five league games. And he has also been subbed off in the 62nd minute in his last two matches suggesting that even Christiansen is losing faith in him. Alioski has had some bright spells. But his bad performances have outweighed the good.
Hadi Sacko: 4/10
Sacko is another player Leeds signed permanently this summer after he spent last season on loan there. Unlike Jansson though, Sacko hasn’t done a lot this season. He has played a grand total of 33 minutes in the Championship for Leeds. Sacko did score in Leeds League Cup win over Burnley. But apart from that, nothing much.
Mateusz Klich: 5/10
Since arriving in the summer, Klich has failed to cement a place in the first team. The midfielder has started just one Championship game, which Leeds United lost 3-1.
Klich has started all three of the cup games this season. but other than that he hasn’t really shone.
Jay-Roy Grot: 5.5/10
Grot is just 19 years of age. So, when he did sign, the fans probably didn’t expect him to be a direct replacement for Wood. Grot certainly hasn’t been. He has made four appearances in the Championship but they only add up to a total of 94 minutes.
Grot also started in the cup vs Burnley. But in all of his appearances, he is yet to score for Leeds United. It would appear that Grot is more of a long-term signing rather than a goal scoring striker right now.
Pawel Cibicki: 2/10
Cibicki has been a rather pointless signing for Leeds. The Swede has not played in the Championship yet and has played just once in the cup for Leeds, in which he neither scored or assisted.
Caleb Ekuban: 3/10
Ekuban is another forward Leeds United signed this summer who has done very little so far. He has played just once in the league, failing to score or assist and just once in the cup. Ekuban did score and assist in his one cup game. But even that was against Port Vale. So while he has contributed slightly more than Cibicki, he still has been a slightly pointless signing.
Felix Wiedwald: 7.5/10
Wiedwald has been an excellent signing for Leeds United. The German is a great shot stopper and has helped Leeds keep six clean sheets in 11 league games this season.
He also cost less than a million which is a huge bargain in today’s market. Especially for someone who has performed as well as he has.
Wiedwald has, however, let in seven goals in his last three Championship matches. But not all of that is down to him. Plus, for around 500k, keeping six clean sheets in 11 games is a really good return and was one of the better buys from Leeds United this window.
Ouasim Bouy: N/A
Bouy has yet to play for Leeds as he was immediately sent out on loan.
Andy Lonergan: 4.5/10
Lonergan returned to Leeds United this summer after leaving the club for Bolton back in 2012. He is very much their second choice keeper though as he has made just one appearance. That was against Burnley where he let in two goals. Overall, he is likely to be just used as a sub in case Felix is injured. And considering they didn’t pay for him, he’s not that bad a signing.
Madger Gomes: 5/10
Gomes has yet to feature in the league. Also, he has made two appearances in two of Leeds’ cup games. Gomes is only 20 so he is perhaps more for the future and considering Leeds got him for free, you can understand the logic. Especially when you consider he has spent some time in Liverpool’s u23 side.
Vurnon Anita: 8/10
Leeds United signed Anita on a free from Newcastle United which was a really good bit of business. Firstly because it was for free. But more importantly, because Anita is well versed in the Championship having helped Newcastle United win promotion last season.
Furthermore, while he has mostly played left back for the club, where he has done a solid job, he can also play centre midfielder. So for free, Leeds United have signed an experienced player both in the Championship and Premier League who can play in multiple positions.
Pierre-Michel Lasogga: 7.5/10
Lasogga is one of three loan signings Leeds United have made this summer. So far the German has played five league games, scoring three and assisting three. An excellent return for a player the club have not had to pay for. While it is only early days for Lasogga, if he keeps that sort of record up all season he could be one of the best incomings in the club this summer.
Matthew Pennington: 3.5/10
Pennington is on loan from Premier League side Everton. So far his loan move has not been a great one. The centre-back has played in three Championship games so far. In those three games, Leeds United have failed to keep a clean sheet and have let in seven. While all the blame can’t be put on Pennington, it doesn’t look good for the defender when every game he plays in, Leeds concede at least two.
Cameron Borthwick-Jackson: 6.5/10
Borthwick-Jackson is Leeds final loan signing of the window. He is on loan from Manchester United and has been very much brought in as a sub player. But he has certainly done well in that role.
He has played one Championship game in which the club kept a clean sheet and then played in all of Leeds United’s cup games.
