Leeds United: Whites’ board is urged to deliver one more signing
YEP 30/8/13
by Phil Hay
Brian McDermott has asked Leeds United’s board to deliver one more signing before Monday’s transfer deadline after identifying a final target.
The Leeds manager said his interest in the unnamed player – thought to be a winger – was at a preliminary stage and he described the proposed deal as “a maybe” following talks with United’s owners.
McDermott is pushing for a late addition to his squad after the arrival of Scott Wootton from Manchester United for an undisclosed fee last week gave him his fourth signing of the summer.
The Leeds boss submitted a list of eight names to United’s board of directors at the end of last season with the aim of bringing six new players to Elland Road and he is awaiting developments with a potential fifth recruit ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Queens Park Rangers.
United have a well-publicised shortage of wingers and McDermott admitted that a wide midfielder was his next priority after the capture of Wootton deepened Leeds’ shallow pool of centre-backs.
McDermott said: “If anything there’s a possibility of one player coming in but nothing’s nailed down.
“There’s a player in my mind who I’d like to get but it’s very early days. It’s not about the details at the moment, it’s just a player I’d like to sign.
“I’ve had a little discussion with the owners and it’s a maybe. That’s it.
“It would be a permanent move if we can do a deal with the other club.”
McDermott has operated under financial constraints all summer and he conceded recently that any attempt to buy a winger would be hampered by the inherently high cost of players in that mould.
Jimmy Kebe, who thrived during McDermott’s time as Reading manager, looks likely to leave the Madejski Stadium in the next 72 hours ahead after failing to appear once for Reading this month but the cost of bringing him to Leeds would be prohibitive and Crystal Palace are believed to be offering him a return to the Premier League.
West Ham United’s Ricardo Vaz Te, meanwhile, handed in a transfer request yesterday morning in an effort to force his way out of Upton Park before the September 2 deadline. Cardiff City – another of the Premier League’s newly-promoted clubs – have already been heavily linked with the former Barnsley player.
McDermott’s work in the transfer market has been a case of gradual progress, beginning with the free transfer of Matt Smith from Oldham Athletic and continuing with the £1million signing of Luke Murphy from Crewe Alexandra.
Noel Hunt subsequently accepted a two-year deal after leaving Reading and Wootton’s move was finalised in time for last weekend’s 2-1 victory at Ipswich Town.
Despite his desire for further additions, McDermott said: “We’ve signed four players, we’re happy with the players we’ve signed and we’re happy with the players we’ve got.
“I know at this time of the season we have to talk about players we haven’t got but I prefer to talk about the ones who are here and how much they’re giving for the club.”
McDermott said Leeds were still to attract firm offers for any of their fringe squad members, saying he had received “phone calls but nothing concrete” with three days of the transfer window left.
by Phil Hay
Brian McDermott has asked Leeds United’s board to deliver one more signing before Monday’s transfer deadline after identifying a final target.
The Leeds manager said his interest in the unnamed player – thought to be a winger – was at a preliminary stage and he described the proposed deal as “a maybe” following talks with United’s owners.
McDermott is pushing for a late addition to his squad after the arrival of Scott Wootton from Manchester United for an undisclosed fee last week gave him his fourth signing of the summer.
The Leeds boss submitted a list of eight names to United’s board of directors at the end of last season with the aim of bringing six new players to Elland Road and he is awaiting developments with a potential fifth recruit ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Queens Park Rangers.
United have a well-publicised shortage of wingers and McDermott admitted that a wide midfielder was his next priority after the capture of Wootton deepened Leeds’ shallow pool of centre-backs.
McDermott said: “If anything there’s a possibility of one player coming in but nothing’s nailed down.
“There’s a player in my mind who I’d like to get but it’s very early days. It’s not about the details at the moment, it’s just a player I’d like to sign.
“I’ve had a little discussion with the owners and it’s a maybe. That’s it.
“It would be a permanent move if we can do a deal with the other club.”
McDermott has operated under financial constraints all summer and he conceded recently that any attempt to buy a winger would be hampered by the inherently high cost of players in that mould.
Jimmy Kebe, who thrived during McDermott’s time as Reading manager, looks likely to leave the Madejski Stadium in the next 72 hours ahead after failing to appear once for Reading this month but the cost of bringing him to Leeds would be prohibitive and Crystal Palace are believed to be offering him a return to the Premier League.
West Ham United’s Ricardo Vaz Te, meanwhile, handed in a transfer request yesterday morning in an effort to force his way out of Upton Park before the September 2 deadline. Cardiff City – another of the Premier League’s newly-promoted clubs – have already been heavily linked with the former Barnsley player.
McDermott’s work in the transfer market has been a case of gradual progress, beginning with the free transfer of Matt Smith from Oldham Athletic and continuing with the £1million signing of Luke Murphy from Crewe Alexandra.
Noel Hunt subsequently accepted a two-year deal after leaving Reading and Wootton’s move was finalised in time for last weekend’s 2-1 victory at Ipswich Town.
Despite his desire for further additions, McDermott said: “We’ve signed four players, we’re happy with the players we’ve signed and we’re happy with the players we’ve got.
“I know at this time of the season we have to talk about players we haven’t got but I prefer to talk about the ones who are here and how much they’re giving for the club.”
McDermott said Leeds were still to attract firm offers for any of their fringe squad members, saying he had received “phone calls but nothing concrete” with three days of the transfer window left.
