There are two transfer windows in football, with decisions made then damning clubs at times. The wrong player in, a rash decision made and it’s a case of like it or lump it.
So, between windows, it is said to be of paramount importance that clubs utilise their scouting networks efficiently to cut down on any profligacy and to avoid any potential mistakes. Informed decisions, made on the back of careful scouting, are always going to be better than knee-jerk decisions made in haste.
That is why sides employ scouts, to give them a metaphorical foot-up when it comes to making such decisions. Leeds United are one of SEVEN Sky Bet Championship clubs to have taken this mantra to heart in the decision to scout the recent game between Celtic and Stade Rennais, according to this tweet from BBC Scotland reporter Kheredine Idessane;
Interesting list of clubs who were represented at @CelticFC v @staderennais last night , presumably looking at potential signings from either club (or scouting for upcoming matches against them). Plenty @CelticFC players would have caught the eye again #january #transferwindow pic.twitter.com/Crr2z6uhaN
— @Kheredine (@Kheredine2018) November 29, 2019
There is no indication of whom Leeds, or any of the other six Championship sides, were scouting or whether it was a Celtic or Stade Rennais player they were interested in. Yet, the fact that all these sides were there does point towards the idea that they might have been laying some foundation work in readiness for January 1st and the opening of the winter window.
Leeds United have always tended to be quiet through the January window, many are saying that this is to remain the case again come 2020. However, Whites fans will be quick to point out that United are renowned for the second-half-of-a-season crumbling that rouses many a rendition of ‘Leeds, Leeds are falling apart…again’ from opposition fans.
To that end, a Leeds United scout at a Celtic game could very well stand as some form of an insurance policy.