Leeds United will kick off their Championship campaign in three weeks and they are still waiting to add to their squad
Rodrigo become the latest senior player to leave Leeds United this week. The Spain international saw his switch to Qatari outfit Al-Rayyan confirmed, bringing an end to his three-year stay at Elland Road.
He didn’t always find the going straightforward in the Premier League, but things clicked for him last season, bagging 13 top-flight goals to establish himself as a crowd favourite. As such, his departure leaves a big hole at the top end of the field that Leeds will have to fill before the transfer window slams shut on September 1.
Rodrigo has followed Robin Koch, Diego Llorente and Brenden Aaronson out the Leeds United exit door, while Rasmus Kristensen and Marc Roca are thought to be on the verge of leaving, too, with respective loan deals with Roma and Real Betis being lined up. Such high-profile departures need replacing, of course, in order to give Daniel Farke’s squad the depth required to launch a sustainable push towards promotion.
A handful of youngsters have stepped up to cover the gaps, while a number of fringe players are being given opportunities to prove their worth. But, as of yet, Leeds haven’t made a senior signing this summer and with three weeks to go until the start of the Championship season, that has not been lost on supporters on social media.
Fans are starting to show frustration and a degree of panic as the club’s delayed takeover situation continues to eat into their summer transfer plans and Wednesday’s pre-season outing against Manchester United only served to underline the growing need to get things done.
The business being done by other clubs in the Championship hasn’t exactly helped matters, either, amongst supporters. Leicester City made a splash earlier in the window with the signings of Conor Coady and Harry Winks and now Southampton are making moves, too.
The south coast outfit bagged Ryan Manning, who had been linked with Leeds, on a free transfer, while Northern Ireland international Shea Charles set them back £15m. Middlesbrough have been busy strengthening of late with Morgan Rogers and Seny Dieng being amongst their recruits, while Norwich City and Watford have made moves, too.
Pressure is building, then, at Elland Road as the club continue to find themselves locked in a holding pattern while they wait for the ratification of 49ers Enterprises’ takeover. Work is ongoing behind the scenes with Nick Hammond, Daniel Farke and others working hard to identify targets and line things up so the button can be pressed on a number of moves once the deal has officially gone through and the keys have changed hands.
There’s no knowing when that thumbs up will come through, though, and that’s arguably the biggest frustration of the lot for supporters, who are desperate to see their side throw their considerable weight around in the window, draw a line under last season’s struggles and kick on with a squad capable of winning promotion. Leeds have until September 1 to sign players and the club will be confident of having the time required to recruit.
But, the sooner those transfer wheels are greased, the better it will be for everyone involved.
