Due to their desperate need for new players, Leeds United will have to pay a “huge premium” for new arrivals before the deadline, according to former Whites midfielder David Norris.
The former Whites midfielder claims that with Georginio Rutter anticipated to transfer to Brighton, the team will only have 19 registered first-team players, and clubs will attempt to sift through Daniel Farke’s squad in search of possible additions.
Leeds has explored the loan market and is yet to make a major purchase despite having been raided for their best players. Bobby Clark is the most recent player they appear to have lost out on, as Liverpool are prepared to sell to RB Salzburg [BBC Sport, 14 August].
“There may come a time when we reach the final days of the transfer window and Leeds are compelled to pay a hefty premium for players they prove to be desperate for,” Norris stated in an exclusive interview with MOT Leeds News.
“Bobby Clark is a sign of it; Liverpool played hardball and Leeds lost out because they knew Leeds needed midfield replacements and preferred to sell rather than loan.
It will simply drag on. In the latter days of the window, if they’re not careful, they’ll be held to ransom—it’s a challenging scenario.
Leeds United’s transfer situation
Callum O’Hare, Jonathan Rowe, and Bobby Clark are just a few of the players Leeds has targeted but failed to sign thus far this window.
The lack of depth in the squad is what has Elland Road supporters furious, not only because big sale money isn’t being reinvested (they know about the PSR books they have to balance).
Farke was only able to make eight changes to his starting lineup for Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup match against Middlesbrough because of a fortunate stretch of health. If the performance was any indication, however, he may wind up wearing out his first-choice players because they are reluctant to play second fiddle.
When injuries start to creep in, Farke will have to rely more and more on young players with very little experience as the squad’s fringe players since his selections will become brittle.
That is, of course, unless the club accepts the hand they have been dealt and bites the bullet to secure top targets for premium sums.
Even if they are receiving respectable salaries for their departing players, the club currently has 19 players plus these inexperienced young players, which means there is just not nearly enough to replace them.
