Leeds United fans had grown increasingly used to either one-off marquee signings or cheap, foreign imports when it came to ‘transfer policy’ at the West Yorkshire club. Last summer was different.
Last summer, with Andrea Radrizzani new at the helm, and supported by a new Director of Football in Victor Orta, Leeds United went something likened to transfer frenzy. Players were brought in to the first-team set-up, albeit with varying degrees of success. The season started well, much hope was invested, but the season is now drawing to a sorry close.
Bodies have also been drafted in to pack out the youth sides at Leeds United, the Under-18s and Under-23s; these sides almost running on empty after neglect during the madcap nature that were the Cellino Years. Bodies is too harsh a word to use, these players have come from illustrious clubs such as Real Madrid, Barcelona and Ajax.
However, in a conversation with fans on Twitter, Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Phil Hay indicates that the actual budget that expectant Leeds United fans will see next season won’t be drastically different to what they have seen this campaign.
I don't see the budget changing significantly this summer. What the club will try to do (and AR has already been quoted on this) is lower the size of the squad to free up wages and potentially raise the upper wage limit.
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) April 3, 2018
If the budget doesn’t change “significantly this summer“, as Hay thinks likely to happen, then Leeds United fans are going to be hoping that incoming players are more of the Samu Saiz quality than any of the other purchases that have been made.
One fan, the respected Mike Thornton (MikeT/AdrianTeakdesk) says in the Twitter conversation that the players at the club will want to play, rather than sit out the remainder of their contracts sitting on the bench and going through the motions on the training pitch.
He also goes on to say, “Agents won’t sit and watch their assets (the player) deteriorate on the training pitch and will move them on. Agents get paid by buying club so better to move than see out contract.”
Hay agrees with this, tweeting that the Whites need to look at cutting out some of the chaff to create both headroom and space with regard to salary.
that’s the first port of call – to move on players/salaries that aren’t needed. Ouasim Bouy for example. No idea why he’s here on a four-year deal.
— Phil Hay (@PhilHayYEP) April 3, 2018
Leeds are currently in London and readying themselves to take on a dangerous Fulham side at Craven Cottage. Whites fans will be hopeful of a three-point haul tonight, a haul that will add a little sparkle to what has been something of a dull 2018 so far for the Whites.
