Transfer focus is on window
YEP 2/11/13
by Phil Hay
Brian McDermott’s search for players is rapidly shifting towards January after he hinted that Leeds United would stick with their current squad until the FIFA transfer window opens.
McDermott said he anticipated little movement in or out of Elland Road during the remainder of the emergency loan window after making two new signings and sanctioning the departure of defender Aidan White to Sheffield United.
United agreed a three-month deal for Nottingham Forest striker Dexter Blackstock last week and followed up his arrival by recruiting experienced Lithuanian centre-back Marius Zaliukas on a contract until the end of the season.
White, meanwhile, will stay with League One club Sheffield United until the end of 2013 having left Elland Road on a temporary basis on Tuesday.
And McDermott, who has openly expressed his desire for out-and-out wingers at Elland Road, expects the Football League’s loan deadline to pass on November 28 without further transfers.
White was not the only member of McDermott’s squad available for loan but the United manager said: “At the moment no-one’s come in for any of the players we’ve talked about and my gut feeling is that nothing much will happen.
“Let’s see what happens in January – that’s something we need to be looking at now.”
McDermott expects to have a new chief scout in place by January with Leeds working the finalise the appointment of Luke Dowling, the former head of recruitment at Portsmouth and Blackburn Rovers.
Dowling attracted McDermott’s attention during the summer but has been unable to take up employment at Elland Road while he and Blackburn agreed a severance package following his dismissal from Ewood Park in March.
The Leeds boss, however, revealed that Dowling had been responsible for alerting him to the availability of Blackstock who moved to United days after Brighton believed they had secured a deal to take him from Forest.
“The reason we got Dexter is that Luke got a phone call saying he might be available,” McDermott said.“He then rang me. These things make the difference.”
by Phil Hay
Brian McDermott’s search for players is rapidly shifting towards January after he hinted that Leeds United would stick with their current squad until the FIFA transfer window opens.
McDermott said he anticipated little movement in or out of Elland Road during the remainder of the emergency loan window after making two new signings and sanctioning the departure of defender Aidan White to Sheffield United.
United agreed a three-month deal for Nottingham Forest striker Dexter Blackstock last week and followed up his arrival by recruiting experienced Lithuanian centre-back Marius Zaliukas on a contract until the end of the season.
White, meanwhile, will stay with League One club Sheffield United until the end of 2013 having left Elland Road on a temporary basis on Tuesday.
And McDermott, who has openly expressed his desire for out-and-out wingers at Elland Road, expects the Football League’s loan deadline to pass on November 28 without further transfers.
White was not the only member of McDermott’s squad available for loan but the United manager said: “At the moment no-one’s come in for any of the players we’ve talked about and my gut feeling is that nothing much will happen.
“Let’s see what happens in January – that’s something we need to be looking at now.”
McDermott expects to have a new chief scout in place by January with Leeds working the finalise the appointment of Luke Dowling, the former head of recruitment at Portsmouth and Blackburn Rovers.
Dowling attracted McDermott’s attention during the summer but has been unable to take up employment at Elland Road while he and Blackburn agreed a severance package following his dismissal from Ewood Park in March.
The Leeds boss, however, revealed that Dowling had been responsible for alerting him to the availability of Blackstock who moved to United days after Brighton believed they had secured a deal to take him from Forest.
“The reason we got Dexter is that Luke got a phone call saying he might be available,” McDermott said.“He then rang me. These things make the difference.”
