Leeds United face off with Fulham to resume their Premier League campaign this Saturday, where they’ll be hoping to avoid bleak transfer reminders from Rodrigo Muniz and Harry Wilson.
Tomorrow’s trip down to Craven Cottage is the first time Leeds are in action since deadline day. A notable failure for United as they missed out on key targets and left Daniel Farke short of the additions he diagnosed as vital to the season.
Two of the most obvious failed signings from Leeds’ window were both Fulham players, incidentally. Rodrigo Muniz was the main headline from the first half of the window. After that, Leeds’ frantic deadline day saw them turn to Harry Wilson.
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Fulham v Leeds United: Will Harry Wilson and Rodrigo Muniz have an impact?
The worry for Leeds is that these two players, having stayed put at Craven Cottage, have their say tomorrow.
Muniz has been an infrequent starter overall under Marco Silva, but started the last two before the break, not adding to his goal off the bench on the opening day.
Leeds United failed to sign Rodrigo Muniz and Harry Wilson from Fulham in the summer. (Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley)
Regarding Wilson, the Welshman was seemingly happy and ready to move up to West Yorkshire. He signed his part of the deal sheet to extend Leeds’ time to get a deal sorted, only for Fulham to pull the plug after missing out on Tyrique George from Chelsea.
However, his position at Fulham ironically looks significantly weaker after deadline day as his Leeds move fell through. That’s because the Cottagers added AC Milan’s Samu Chukwueze on loan as well as £35million Brazilian Kevin from Shakhtar Donetsk.
Fulham’s wide options look infinitely stronger than they did in the afternoon of September 1st. It looked like they might lose Wilson, while not having Chukwueze or Kevin through the doors yet.
Now, though, Silva is delighted with his options. That includes the Wales international that would have been playing for the away side if his club played ball.
“We believe the profiles of Chukwueze and Kevin will add to what we’ve been looking for in those areas of the pitch,” Silva said to the Fulham site. “With Adama, Harry Wilson and Alex Iwobi, they’re going to be our solutions for the wide areas of the pitch.
“Him (Kevin) and Chukwueze are going to help us.”
Harry Wilson is the profile Leeds United were missing in the summer transfer window
I’m not going to sit here and ignore the fact that after the calibre of names we were linked with previously in the window (including Muniz), a desperate attempt for Wilson was underwhelming.
That being said, after missing out on Facundo Buonanotte to Chelsea, Leeds needed someone of Wilson’s profile.
A left-footed right-winger that can also play as a 10, contributes with a good amount of goals, and has a superb delivery from out wide as well as set-pieces.
Those characteristics are still sorely lacking in this Leeds squad. Hopefully, with Noah Okafor integrated, and Willy Gnonto potentially on the right, we don’t see that void as much.
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!