When new Leeds United chairman Paraag Marathe spoke to the official Leeds United podcast back in July, he promised the club would be “aggressive” in the transfer market, with a rapid return to the top table being the ultimate aim.
You would have been forgiven for questioning the sense in using the term aggressive in the weeks following that statement, as the club appeared to be sitting on its hands while a mass exodus ensued at Elland Road. Granted, Ethan Ampadu signed for the club on July 18th with Karl Darlow arriving later that month, but their arrivals did little to stem the sense of powerlessness that Leeds supporters grappled with as they watched player after player depart the club on unsavory loan terms.
The club resembled a dead carcass, preyed upon for its remaining valuable flesh. Everton were particularly starved and managed to claw Jack Harrison away on a one-year loan deal. They retuned again like a ravenous bald eagle, this time for Willy Gnonto, however the club picked up enough strength to fend off this challenge. The signs of life were beginning to show themselves, finally.
Over the following weeks, the club managed to suppress the tide of outgoings, which did as much for morale amongst fans as the subsequent arrivals. There was a growing sense that the club was in a better position to close the exit door and turn its focus on arrivals. Old boy Sam Byram represented a decent bit of business in early August and will add significant Championship experience to the squad. Tottenham’s Joe Rodon was next in the door, joining on a year’s loan from White Hart Lane. Rodon is another steady and proven Championship performer who spent last season in Ligue 1 with Rennes.
A two-week period of rumour, gossip, discussion and flirting took place in mid-August, before Championship hit-man Joel Piroe put pen to paper for the club prior to our fixture with Ipswich Town. A standout striker since his arrival in the league two seasons ago, he is arguably the club’s statement signing of the summer. A further flurry of incomings in the last few days have had supporters pinching themselves. Djed Spence, the marauding right back became our second loan signing to arrive from Spurs. Llia Gruev, the Bulgarian defensive midfielder was welcomed from German outfit Werder Bremen before long-term target Glen Kamara finally got his move to Elland Road.
In essence, the window was split into two stages for the club. The first stage was characterised by wholesale departure, most of whom leaving due to clauses within their contracts that allowed them loan moves were the club to be relegated. There was a sprinkling of permanent moves and more conventional loan departures, but essentially this part of the window was a clear out.
The second stage of the window saw the aggressive approach to recruitment that Paraag Marathe spoke about back in July. Proven Championship defenders and a proven Championship Striker were amongst the standout signings, but little can be argued with the personnel brought into the club as a whole.
Added to the attacking quality on show at Ipswich Town and you would have to think Leeds will be heavily in the mix for promotion this season. Exciting times ahead at Elland Road again, doesn’t it feel good?
