49ers Enterprises will face criticism but only Daniel Farke can answer key Leeds United question — Leeds Live 31/8/24
Leeds United ended the transfer window with two further additions but questions will be asked if it is enough
With a little over one week of the transfer window to go and
tensions beginning to rise rightfully with a fanbase who had seen over £150m
worth of talent leave the club during a summer of upheaval, Leeds United boss
Daniel Farke moved to calm the increasingly choppy waters.
Pointing to the need in his mind for just four signings and
with plenty of time left, Farke spelled out that need which included new wide
threats, a midfield addition and defensive cover at full-back. It may have
taken until 10:30pm on transfer deadline day as Leeds kept fans nervously
waiting (what else would we expect), but as the transfer window ceremonially
closed Farke had his men.
In Largie Ramazani, Manor Solomon, Ao Tanaka and Isaac
Schmidt Leeds' board had done the job Farke wanted. To what effect we'll only
really know as we approach the next transfer window, but there's no hiding from
the fact many supporters will be left questioning the business done as they
head to today's game. All transfer business is a gamble of sorts, but some
gambles are more dangerous than others. 49ers Enterprises appear to be playing
a high stakes game by putting little money down to bet with.
And so as the debrief on the activities of the summer start
and the questions on whether it has been a good or bad window for Leeds
commence, one important question which should be asked is this. Does Farke feel
the club have done enough for him to lead this squad to a promotion charge this
season?
Hopefully he'll answer that question later today after the
match with Hull City, but you'd expect his answer would be yes given Leeds'
four signings in the past week have ticked the boxes he wanted. Farke likes a
relatively small squad to work with, but with the necessary cover. That's what
he's been given. The level of quality at his disposal is again something to be
judged later in the year once the manager has had chance to shape his new team.
What is evident right now and can be judged is the approach
from 49ers Enterprises, who have seen a significant rise in income through
sales of players this summer, but have not spent with the type of significance
that you would normally associate with a league title challenger.
There were talks of a deal for Gustavo Hamer which would
have been the only real statement signing of the end of the transfer window,
equally Roland Sallai would have been welcomed on a similar level, but how hard
Leeds pushed for these deals will be questioned. The key is, none of this
matters if results are delivered and there's no denying Farke has enough
quality to do that if he has some luck with injuries.