For many Leeds United fans, this window seemed to be about the matter of who the Whites would be bringing in, what players would arrive to strengthen the side.
However, the Whites Managing Director, Angus Kinnear, gave a different insight into what the club was working towards in this window. In addition to looking at incomings and strengthening of that part of the squad, Kinnear also spoke about keeping the core of the squad together in an interview with Graham Smyth.
In this interview with the Yorkshire Evening Post’s new chief football writer, Kinnear elaborates on just what the Whites were up against throughout the duration of this window. In doing so, he comments on the fact that Leeds turned down bids totalling £35million for a quartet of their players.
Speaking very plainly, Kinnear said plainly: “Our first priority this window was around who we kept.” This would fit in well with the club’s ambitions of keeping hold of key players who can help drive a successful promotion bid this season towards the Premier League.
Speaking more about the bids turned down, Kinnear provides an insight into just which players other sides were interested in. Speaking on this, Kinnear said: “If you take the biggest bid for Kalvin [Phillips], Adam Forshaw, Luke [Ayling], there’s £35m we’ve turned down.”
In justifying the reasons for not caving in to bids for these players, Kinnear was very clear indeed. On this point he stated: “We wanted to keep all the players we thought would be central to us getting promoted.”
That quotation right there from Kinnear points to the expectation and direction of Leeds United this season. Keep the players, don’t weaken the core of a very good side and push on to improve on last season’s end result.
