Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Leeds Live
Leeds Live
Sport
Laurie Martin

Arnaud Kalimuendo interest, Andrea Radrizzani's ownership and Leeds United left-back problem

I thought there was a marked change in tone from Marsch re: transfers in Australia to his response in this week’s press conference. Are we going to sign an attacker or not?

Beren says: "The first part of your question virtually hits the nail on the head. Between Sunday and Thursday, Marsch's language on additions certainly changed. There was more caution in his voice and that was then backed up by what Radrizzani told The Athletic on Wednesday.

"The goalkeeper will be done next week and then I'd say a forward seems more likely than a left-back, but even then it has to be the right striker for Leeds to spend De Ketelaere levels of cash. Radrizzani should know, or should be being advised, there is not much credit in the bank with fans going into this new season.

"Yes, they stayed up, but the football in those 12 games was poor, the club's two best players have been sold and the jury is out on the new faces for a few weeks. If they find themselves in the bottom five by the end of September then there will be some concerns, but I would like to think the really vitriolic stuff won't come until much later in the season, if at all."

READ MORE: 'No faith in VAR' - Pundit stunned after Rasmus Kristensen denied Leeds United penalty

Do you think there’s any truth in the Renyer links? Which left back looks most likely at the moment? We’re desperately short there.

Beren says: "Renyer's not a name I've heard given much credibility yet. To be brutally honest, beyond the goalkeeper, there's nothing imminent for Leeds. No left-backs seem to be close, even if most of us feel they need fresh blood there."

What we can't accept is that we have had major issues in two areas - left-back and forward - for the last three seasons, which we have failed to address and it's looking like this will carry on

Leeds United wanted to sign striker Charles De Ketelaere this summer. (Photo by AC Milan/AC Milan via Getty Images) (AC Milan/AC Milan via Getty Images)

Beren says: "You make some very good points. There does seem to be a blind spot at left-back and striker, much like there was in central midfield before this summer's recruits.

"I find it really hard to understand why they are not moving for a left-back with more urgency. We will see if they pull it off, but the noises are not promising on a full-back.

"In Radrizzani's defence, he admitted to The Athletic there was a window with De Ketelaere he perhaps wishes he had acted more boldly in. The 49ers stuff has gone quiet for now.

"There had been some murmurings of more interviews over here with updates on how they saw the situation moving forward, but that's gone quiet for now. Radrizzani delivered an update on their position in his interview."

Why don't Leeds just pay the extra £5m to sign the young 20-year-old from PSG?

Beren says: "Kalimuendo is certainly a name Leeds are giving thought to, but there must be something putting them off going all in for him. He is at the right age and has clearly been good enough on the pitch to warrant their attention, but all of the pieces in the puzzle may not quite be there if they haven't gone in for him as yet."

Radrizzani said striker recruitment would limit Joffy's chances of playing. If everyone is sure they won't recruit a striker it is disturbing because it's similar to repeating the mistake of giving up recruiting adult players to nurture young players in January

Beren says: "I don't think you're too far wrong with that hypothesis. If Radrizzani, Kinnear, Orta and Marsch don't feel there is a striker of the right age, profile and value before September 1, they are comfortable to go with what they have in attack because Gelhardt is capable of playing more next season and backing up Bamford."

READ NEXT:

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.