Leeds United fans have had to show patience as their club works to build a squad capable of thriving in the Premier League.
The Whites have signed Lukas Nmecha from Wolfsburg, but that’s the extent of their transfer activity so far this summer.
A patient approach from the 49ers is sensible at this point of the window because they don’t want to get sucked in to paying too much for players out of desperation.
Leeds must avoid deals like £30m Gomez
As the club prepares for life in the Premier League, new recruits with top-flight experience could be welcomed in all areas of the pitch.
Leeds are reportedly one of several clubs waiting in line to sign Liverpool defender Joe Gomez.
A report from The Guardian (18 June) suggests that Liverpool would sell the England star to any club willing to stump up £30million.
And this is exactly the type of deal Leeds should avoid.
It’s a classic example of the ‘English player tax’ that has seen more fringe internationals move for extortionate fees.
Yes, Gomez has two Premier League medals and a few England caps. He is also injury-prone and struggling to nail down a place in Liverpool’s first team.
Leeds could find a player on the foreign market with Gomez’s ability for a far smaller fee. That requires more patience and an efficient scouting system, but this is the route Leeds should take.
49ers have shown they can operate intelligently in transfer market
The 49ers have been operating in English football for some time now, and they’ve shown they can operate intelligently in the transfer market.
They have sold up-and-coming players for large fees, which although upsetting for fans at the time, is a great way to build a sustainable football club.
They haven’t fallen into the trap of overpaying for a player too often either.
That’s why news of Leeds eyeing up a £30m Gomez shouldn’t alarm fans too much. The 49ers will know how to value a player correctly and negotiate intelligently.
| Appearances | Minutes Played | Goals | Assists |
| 17 | 886 | 0 | 0 |
Leeds will need as much nous in the transfer market as possible as they aim to build a squad worthy of the Premier League this summer.
The recruitment team has always worked with logic rather than desperation, so this is a deal that will likely be avoided.
