Selling your two best players after narrowly avoiding relegation may not appear to be the smartest survival tactic.
But Leeds believe they can improve Jesse Marsch’s squad despite losing Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha. Leeds are using the windfall from Phillips’ £45million move to Manchester City and Raphinha’s £55million switch to Barcelona to rebuild their squad.
They have splashed out just over £91million on six players and have enough left in their transfer warchest to buy a striker. When the dust settles on Leeds’ transfer window, they are optimistic their squad will look better than it did on the final day of last season when they dodged relegation by beating Brentford.
Back then it would have been inconceivable to think Leeds could cope with the loss of Phillips and Raphinha because both played such pivotal roles in their escape act.
But Leeds have bought wisely this summer - in contrast to 12 months ago when they had a poor window - not just to plug the holes left by this pair, but to add strength in depth.
Leeds’ squad became horribly unbalanced last season, largely because of Marcelo Bielsa’s intransigence.
Bielsa refused to carry the numbers needed to survive in the Premier League and consequently Leeds struggled terribly when injuries bit hard.
He was also obsessed with signing wingers and his focus on wide players left him with a blind spot when it came to other areas, which needed strengthening, most notably up front and in centre midfield.
Bielsa’s successor Marsch is more closely attuned to director of football Victor Orta and together they have ticked off nearly everything on their summer shopping list.
Tyler Adams, whom Marsch first spotted at 15 at New York Red Bulls academy, has been bought from RB Leipzig for £20million to replace Phillips in the midfield holding hole.
Former Spanish Under-21 international Marc Roca will support Adams while Brenden Aaronson will bring some much-needed creativity to their midfield.
Rasmus Kristensen increases Leeds’ options at right-back, especially with Luke Ayling set to miss the start of the season as he recovers from injury.
Luis Sinisterra has been brought in from Feyenoord to replace Raphinha and the Colombian winger is arguably the most exciting of Leeds’ summer purchases.
He scored 23 goals last season, including 11 in Feyenoord’s run to the Europa Conference League Final, and is only going to better at 23.
The final piece of Leeds’ transfer jigsaw will be a striker to ease the goalscoring burden on Patrick Bamford and Leeds are prepared to pay a club record £31.6million to land Belgium international Charles De Ketelaere.
AC Milan rival them for De Ketelaere and Leeds have offered Paris St Germain £21.4million for Arnaud Kalimuendo.
They probably look more likely to sign Kalimuendo and what is clear is that they will end the transfer window stronger than when it began.
