Leeds United fans have been replying in their hoards to a tweet by Adam Pope, after the BBC Sport broadcaster asked the Elland Road faithful to asses the club’s summer transfer activity.
In terms of incomings, Director of Football Victor Orta has managed to agree loan deals for Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Helder Costa and Brighton & Hove Albion defender Ben White to move to Elland Road for the season, with our agreement with Wolves also including an obligation-to-buy.
FC Lorient prospect Illan Meslier has also moved to West Yorkshire on loan, with the Ligue 2 side confirming we hold an option to purchase the teenage shot-stopper next summer for an undisclosed fee.
There has also been a return to the club for Jack Harrison, who will spend a second consecutive season at Elland Road on loan from Manchester City, where our youth ranks now boast former Carlisle talent Liam McCarron.
Harrison, Costa and co. could yet be joined by Arsenal product Eddie Nketiah, with the Gunners prospect set for a medical ahead of a one-season loan due to be secured on Deadline Day.
However, while Marcelo Bielsa now boasts a wealth of new attacking talent, the boss has lost several players, including last season’s top goalscorer Kemar Roofe and influential defender Pontus Jansson.
Kiko Casilla’s understudy Bailey Peacock-Farrell has left for Burnley, as well, while Jack Clarke has signed a permanent deal with Tottenham Hotspur, although the Whites product is back at Elland Road on loan.
Fringe players like Caleb Ekuban, Aapo Halme and Malik Wilks have all left for pastures new, too, while Samuel Saiz has secured a permanent return to Spain with Girona.
For some Leeds fans, the fees United have received for players that were key to our run to the Championship Play-Off Semi-Finals last season have caused particular frustration this summer.
Brentford have reportedly paid £5.5million plus-add-ons for Jansson, Spurs saw an offer of £8.5m rising to £13million for Clarke accepted, and Roofe departed for RSC Anderlecht for a fee in the region of £6.5m and £7million.
Now that Pope has asked supporters to assess the club’s business ahead of the market closing at 17:00, there are fans suggesting it has been ‘one of the worst windows in years’.
The Twitter buzz caused by the BBC Sport broadcaster did see some of the Elland Road faithful respond with positivity, though.
A few Leeds fans suggested White, Costa and Nketiah are improvements on the likes of Jansson, Saiz, and Roofe, while losing the Sweden defender and Spanish midfielder to Brentford and Girona has cleared the squad of two ‘bad eggs’.
Here’s how these fans see the club’s transfer activity…
No the squad is weaker than last season. And we came up short last season
— Leedslad (@Leedslad15) August 8, 2019
On paper no. But Bielsa doesn’t do paper
— Matt (@Itz_Mat_4shaw) August 8, 2019
I can see the frustration with loan deals but the squad is in much better shape this time around. full of players who should make an impact on the season. If we’d gone down the Permanent deal route last season, we’d now be stuck with Izzy Brown and Lewis Baker ????
— Dirty Leeds ¡Carajo! (@DirtyLeedsFC) August 8, 2019
Barring cb it looks an exciting, strong squad. Will be holding my breath every time cooper or white make a tackle tho.
— Leo Akinfenwe ⚪️???????? (@DirtyLeedsLeo) August 8, 2019
Based on what Bielsa prefers, it’s been a decent window. There was a big desire for a wide player in and that is Costa. Although young, White has replaces Pontus and is possibly a better contribution to the whole as PJ.
What many forget is the increased contribution from the U23— Svend Karlsen (@svendleeds) August 8, 2019
Maybe seeing a Bielsa side more this season but I have question a 30 million net profit in transfers but non of it invested yet! Maybe the U23s can plug gaps & hopefully we’re not unlucky with injuries! Phillips staying though is massive for me
— GoProBarney (@BarneyStuart21) August 8, 2019
Fantastic bit of restructuring. Offloaded fringe players, Jansson gone as alleged troublemaker, cashed in on Roofe and BPF.
Looking like we’ll keep KP.
U23 talent coming through.
All in all IMO it’s about as good a window as we could have expected.— Darren John Young ???????? (@DarrenJohnYoung) August 8, 2019
Last season’s squad are ahead of where they were this time last season with regards fitness and tactics. Happy with the incomings. Harrison already looks better. White assured. Costa to rip it up. Nketiah looks a talent at England youth level. Our u23s now coming through #MOT
— Shaken Not Sterland ???????? (@andy_lufc39) August 8, 2019
I’m happy. Nketiah, White, Costa are all quality additions. Saiz & Jansson were bad eggs in the dressing room. If Bielsa was fine with them leaving then so am I. BPF was 2nd choice GK so no big loss. It’s a shame to see Roofe go, but hopefully Nketiah will be a good replacement.
— Oliver White (@OliWhiteMOT93) August 8, 2019
White, costa and Nkeitah is definitely an improvement on jansson, roofe and saiz
— Dominic Bateman (@Bateeey) August 8, 2019
Pathetic Adam, one of the worst windows in years.
— Alex (@p3d87) August 8, 2019
If we go up yes if we don’t then we’re in a mess. Short term United
— Rainy (@JtotheRain) August 8, 2019