Leeds United’s transfer window has left fans rightly looking for answers as to how the summer was able to end so poorly after such an encouraging start.
The 49ers knew that this summer was going to be a massive challenge and a hugely important period in the club’s history if they wanted to finish outside the relegation zone and buck a growing trend in the top flight of promoted teams dropping straight back down.
To do that, recruitment had to be spot on, and it’s safe to say that the deadline passing has left more questions for the higher-ups to answer, despite some encouraging moves much earlier in the window to strengthen at the back.
Most Read on LeedsAllOver
Leeds United’s GK recruitment caused plenty of disagreement, Daniel Farke preferred Alexander Nubel to Lucas Perri
A vital position Leeds simply had to get right in the summer was in goal, with Illan Meslier axed from the starting lineup in April and Karl Darlow not seen as a Premier League starter.
The man Leeds eventually turned to later in July was Lyon’s Lucas Perri for around £13million, a towering Brazilian with a freakish long throw and commanding presence between the sticks.
(REUTERS/Scott Heppell)
He’s come under some harsh criticism thus far, mainly for his distribution with his feet, but has two clean sheets in three games, a solid start.
Things could have been different if Daniel Farke was given autonomy on the recruitment decisions, though, having had much more of a say during United’s two-year spell in the Championship.
That’s according to The Athletic, who shed light on the summer window and shared how the recruitment staff and Farke were somewhat at odds over their efforts to replace Meslier, eventually turning to Perri.
“The pursuit of a goalkeeper was arguably the most divisive process across June and July for the club’s hierarchy. It took them far longer to decide on the best option between the sticks than in any other position,” the report reads.
“Sources with knowledge of the situation, speaking anonymously to protect relationships, say Farke liked Bayern Munich’s Alexander Nubel.
Daniel Farke seemingly favoured a move for Stuttgart’s Alexander Nubel during the summer. (REUTERS/Annegret Hilse)
“Aaron Ramsdale, Nick Pope, Robin Zentner and Vanja Milinkovic-Savic were all discussed at various times, but availability and agreement across United’s key figures dragged the process out.”
Leeds United need this Lucas Perri transfer to work to stay up
Farke will of course have his preferences, as it was set out when he was appointed that his opinion on transfers would be a very key deciding factor.
That was in the Championship, though, where the German has his undoubted expertise, but he’s failed twice in the Premier League and should have had less autonomy on transfers time around.
This appears to have been the case with Leeds’ recruitment geared towards giving Farke a fighting chance of surviving in the Premier League and making the signings for him – albeit neglecting his wish of more attacking additions.
In goal, though, Perri is one of the most important signings Leeds have made in the sense that the success of this transfer could contribute massively towards United staying up or going down.
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!